President directs commissioners, officers:

'Make proper use of fire trucks'

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday directed Commissioners of Local Government and fire officers, to make proper use of resources received by fire units of local councils.

He issued this directive at a ceremony held at Temple Trees on Thursday to mark the distribution of a consignment of fire trucks and vehicles valued at Rs 600 million received under a Netherlands loan scheme among 14 local councils.

President Rajapaksa said heavy damage is caused to property and lives sometimes due to the lack of swift action by fire units.

He said cooperation and coordination among fire and disaster management units and security sources should be obtained for fire control activities.

The government has brought down a large consignment of fire trucks and construction equipment such as backhoe machines, tippers and multi-purpose JCB vehicles for distribution among local councils. A wide array of these vehicles were parked near Galle Face, said a press release by the President's media division.

President Rajapaksa symbolically handed over the keys of the fire vehicles to be provided to the Galle, Kurunegala, Badulla, Kalutara, Trincomalee and Anuradhapura MCs to the respective officials.

A fire vehicle with an aerial reach of 17 feet was handed over to the Colombo Municipal Council.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake, Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal Jayatilleke several local government commissioners and other officials were also present.