Colonization officers told:

Labour for people's welfare

The colonization officers post should be used as a permit to work for the welfare of the people. It should not be transformed into a permit to engage in misdeeds, said Land and Land Development Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon. The Minister said so addressing a new batch of 10 colonization officers who received appointment letters from him at the Ministry office Thursday.

Minister Tennakoon said Colonization officers as public officials should be people friendly and work hard to cater to people's hopes and aspirations. They should never descend to the low level of certain public officers who had earned public ire due to various corrupt practices.

The minister said the country was faced with various land problems and colonization officers should assist the Ministry to solve them.

They should look into peoples land problems and refer them to the Land Commissioner General's Department and Divisional Secretariats for a speedy solution.

The new batch of colonization officers have been assigned to Kantale, Medirigiriya, Vilachchiya, Mahakanadarawa, Kavudulla and Ridimaliyadda Divisional Secretariats.

Deputy Minister Siripala Gamlath, Land Commissioner General R P R Rajapaksa and other officials were also present.