Overwhelming UPFA victory at LG polls:

Endorsement of development drive

Chaminda PERERA

The overwhelming victory achieved by the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the recent Local Government Election will help continue the Government's uninterrupted development drive at village level, said UPFA General Secretary and Petroleum Resources Development Minister Susil Premajayantha.

He said the UNP should extend their fullest cooperation to the Government's development drive to uplift the living standards of people at this juncture.

Addressing a press conference at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, Minister Premajayantha said that the people have endorsed the development drive being implemented by the Government at village level.

He said the UPFA's victory at the election for the remaining Local Government bodies is unavoidable and the people have reiterated their confidence in the Government and its program for the uplift of living standards of the people.

The Minister added that heads of Local Government institutions represented the UPFA constituent parties and many other political parties supporting the Government were present on the occasion. He added that the UPFA won 205 institutions but the heads of 212 local government bodies were sworn-in before the President.

"A special feature of this election is that the main opposition, the UNP failed to secure power in Local Government bodies in a number of districts including Mannar, Vavuniya, Galle, Matara and Hambantota," he added.

Minister Premajayantha said that the new members of local Government institutions would be educated on Financial and Administrative regulations of the Government.

He said the ruling Local Government heads and members would be directed to discuss with the civil society members and the candidates who failed to secure seats at the last LG election over the development needs of the area.

The Minister noted that members of the Local Government authorities should be able to ensure that all people in the area are benefited by the development programs launched by the government. "They should ensure that equal development takes place in all villages in the PS area," he added. Minister Premajayantha added that key posts of seven Local Government bodies were given to the members of UPFA constituent parties.

National Freedom Front member Lalantha Gunasekera who contested the last LG polls under the UPFA was sworn as the Chairman of Katunayake - Seeduwa Urban Council before President.

The post of Chairman at the Tissamaharama PS, Matugama has gone to the MEP while the CP has received the post of Deputy Chairman at the Seethawakapura PS.

The LSSP has received the Chairmanship of Kolonnawa PS.