‘Development hinges on govt servants dedication’

Danushka Godakumbura

Development of the country will be an easy task if all public servants maintained by public funds rally round and dedicate themselves to the nation building effort, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

He was addressing a meeting after opening the newly built Buttala Pradesheeya Sabha building Thursday. Minister Rajapaksa said all public servants including people’s representatives should perform their duty by the nation if the country which had been liberated from terrorism has to be steered towards development and progress.

Minister Rajapaksa who said he was happy to open the meeting place of local representatives in Buttala recalled that the people in Buttala and surrounding areas lived in fear and suspecision due to terrorism when President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office on November 17, 2005. For one and a half years President Rajapaksa tried hard to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. But LTTE terrorists closed the Mavilaru annicut and tried to expel the civilians in the area from their homes.

The Okkampitiya bus bomb explosion killed several people and injured many officers. A father who lost his daughter in this explosion once told the President that he was prepared to withstand his personal agony provided the President took action to wipe out the terrorist menace.

The President in return told the people that he was prepared to take up the challenge of defeating terrorism and steer the underdeveloped country towards development. Minister Rajapaksa said everyone should therefore lend a helping hand to the President and the government to steer the country towards progress.

“We will never try to tie public servants to trees. However public servants on their part lend their unstinted support to the national development effort by doing a proper job commensurate to the salaries they received from public funds.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A. L. M. Athaulla, Agriculture Deputy Minister Jagath Pushpakumara, Moneragala District MP Vijitha Berugoda and several others also spoke.