President tells newly elected LG heads:
Fulfil people’s aspirations
Rasika Somarathna and Dhanushka Godakumbura
* ‘I never discard people who
supported me’
* People who wanted security have
been given it, based on threat assessment
President Mahinda Rajapaksa while attributing the comprehensive
victory of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the concluded
local authority election to team work and unity urged newly appointed LG
heads to work in the same spirit to fulfill people’s aspirations and
needs.
The LG heads of 22 local bodies won by the UPFA at the recently
concluded final phase of local polls were sworn in at Temple Trees
yesterday. The win gave the UPFA control over 80 percent of the local
councils that went to polls in 2011. In all three stages, the UPFA won
271 councils out of 322.
The main Opposition UNP could only manage to win 10 councils.
Advising the newly elected UPFA heads on their responsibilities, the
President told them to never misuse their powers. He told them to put
people’s needs before personal interest and added that their behaviour
should be highly disciplined and exemplary.
“Uppermost of all uphold the people’s trust,” the President said
while pointing out that the people had kept their trust in the UPFA to
govern the country during the last two decades.
He also told them that it was time to put a stop to personal feuds
and work as a team to fulfill people’s expectations and needs.
“It was team work that brought such an overwhelming victory to the
UPFA. We should work as a team in future and at all times,” the
President said.
He also pointed out that when appointing LG heads the party and
colour did not come into consideration and that most suitable were
appointed. He told them to do their duty with 100 percent commitment.
On the subject of security, President Rajapaksa emphasized that not
only ministers and politicians, but, he was responsible for the
protection of every citizen in the country.
He said that authorities did not differentiate among people when
providing security, but, had done so, based on the threat assessment of
the particular individual who sought security.
President Rajapaksa noted that he was fully committed to uphold this
responsibility of protecting all people. and stressed that when
providing security he did not differentiate between an MP, politician or
any other individual but had provided protection on request, depending
on the relevant individual’s threat assessment.
He told the LG Heads that any lingering lawlessness would be
eliminated systematically and added that the measures to bring to a
complete halt the activities of the so called underworld was in
progress.
He stressed that protecting people was of the highest priority and
urged all to support and contribute to the efforts in ushering a safer
and secure environment for all. UPFA General Secretary Susil
Premajayantha, UPFA allied party leaders, Cabinet ministers, MPs, other
politicians, and party supporters were present. |