Country’s development:

Bigger role for senior ministers

Chaminda Perera

Rural Affairs Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne yesterday said that Senior Ministers have been tasked to coordinate and monitor the Government’s massive development drive at highest level.

Contrary to various criticisms made by the Opposition over the role of Senior Ministers, the Rural Affairs Senior Minister said that they will have to play more comprehensive role to put the country on the right development track.

The Minister made these observations after an inspection of the new office complex of Senior Ministers at Colombo 3. Food and Nutrition Senior Minister P Dayaratne was also present. Their offices will be functional from the end of this week.

“We have already participated in three high level meetings comprising the Ministers and officials of more than 15 Ministries to discuss the establishment of one million domestic economic units,” he added.

The Minister said the Senior Ministers will closely monitor this program which will lead to poverty eradication.

Scoffing at the Opposition allegations that the Senior Ministers have been sidelined by the Government, Minister Seneviratne said the Senior Ministerial portfolios were created by the President to obtain their vast experience for the country’s development.

He said the Government has already planned the one million domestic economic unit projects and this will be implemented soon.

Meanwhile, Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau Chairman Engineer N Rupasinghe yesterday told the Daily News that renovation of the three storied office complex to house senior Ministers office has been completed.

This office complex located at Calvery Lane in Colombo 03 consists of all modern facilities such as wifi, an auditorium with a sound system and a car park.

Rupasinghe said the Government has spent more than Rs 95 million to renovate this building which was occupied by the Public Services Commission earlier.

He said the renovation include ceiling, fixing of firefighting units, air conditioning and carpet laying at senior ministers’ offices. Rupasinghe said the Bureau succeeded in renovating the entire building within 20 days.

“We imported many items such as carpets within a few days and completed the renovation work within a very short time,” Rupasinghe said.

He said facilities have been provided to accommodate Coordinating Secretary and Private Secretaries of the Senior Ministers within their offices in addition to the floor allocated to the offices of their secretaries.