President tells new LG heads:

Uphold people’s trust

*LG win clear statement of confidence

*People rejected bogus charges

Rasika SOMARATHNA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the newly appointed UPFA and other allied parties heads of Local Authorities yesterday to uphold the people’s trust, maintain integrity and be fair in judgment in developing the villages.

President Rajapaksa said so-after the heads of 212 LG bodies won by the UPFA and other allied parties were sworn-in before him and other UPFA leaders at Temple Trees.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the newly appointed LG heads

Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of 205 LG bodies won by the UPFA, four by the SLMC and one each by the National Congress and Upcountry People’s Front were sworn-in.

The President said the comprehensive victory by the UPFA at the recent LG polls is a clear statement of confidence of the people in the Government.

President Rajapaksa pointed out that the people had kept their trust in the UPFA to govern the country during the last two decades. “Since 2005, the people gave us power in six elections”, he added.

The President said that this was despite attempts by various elements at both local and international level to tarnish and sabotage the Government’s efforts.

“Through their mandate the people once again have rejected such elements and their bogus allegations and have taken a far-sighted decision again at the recently concluded elections”, he said.

“We should be humbled by the size of the repeated mandates given by the people and should respond, in full measure, to the trust placed in us,” the President added.

On the same note President Rajapaksa said that the people’s power was the strength behind the Government when it undertook a mission to bring freedom to the country by defeating terrorism. He told the LG heads that they had a big responsibility on their shoulders and that they should live up to the trust placed in them by the people.

He also advised the LG heads to put people’s needs before personal interest and added that their behaviour should be highly disciplined and exemplary.

President Rajapaksa also told them that it was time to put a fullstop to personal feuds and work as a team to fulfill people’s expectations and needs.

For this,he said they had the fullest backing of the people, the President, the Government and the Provincial Councils.

Told the new LG heads to do their duty towards the people with 100 percent commitment. UPFA General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha and SLFP General Secretary Minister Maithripala Sirisena also spoke.

The term of office of the local government institutions elected in the recent elections will commence from April 1. The election commissioner is to issue a Gazette notification. Another Gazette notification will be issued by the Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister outlining the period of office of these institutions.