One voice, key to local governance - Minister Athaullah

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

A one voice is an essential fact for all local government institutions and authorities in providing a feasible environment for the people with all basic facilities. The people need local government institutions and Local bodies need people, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister A.L.M.Athaullah said.

The minister was delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of the Commonwealth Symposium on Local Government at the Galadari Hotel yesterday.

The two day symposium and workshop was organized by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and the Commonwealth Secretariat along with the Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry, the Federation of Sri Lanka Local Authorities and with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the theme of "Promoting inter-governmental relations and sharing of good practices and policies on local government."

The aim of local government is to ensure the quality of life of the people in respective areas.

Local Government can transform the environment in which the people live from a mere physical survival level to a well improved level by providing water and sanitation, facilitating cleanliness and environmental safety. It can broaden opportunities for the people to participate in the governance process, he said.

"As a country with a long tradition in local governance, Sri Lanka has 335 local authorities throughout the country. Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas are integral parts of the public administration."

"The central government has given priority to the local government sector as an important wheel of the development engine. Over 100 small towns and urban centres have been selected to an extensive participatory process of development," the minister said.

"The Local Government process has contributed to make the nation a vibrant democracy with a three-tier system of governance. The national policy document, Mahinda Chintana-Future Vision includes key policy and strategic guidelines for empowering, enhancing and improving local development along with active community participation and local government infrastructure enhancement," minister Athaullah said.

He said the conference will be a landmark event in the peaceful environment after eliminating terrorism.

Local Government and Provincial Councils Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake, Ministry Secretary Dr.Nihal Jayathilaka, CLGF Secretary-General Carl Wright, Commonwealth Secretariat Adviser Dr.Munawwar Alam and UNDP Country Director Douglas Keh also spoke. Senior officials from ministries, mayors, councilors, commissioners, city managers, Heads of Local Governance policy and training institutes and representatives from international agencies, private sector and other stakeholders from Asian Commonwealth countries also participated.