‘Development activities must not cease with change of ministers’

President at N ‘Eliya DDC meeting :

Dharma Sri Abeyratne in Nuwara Eliya

“The development activities already on track will never be stopped or cancelled with the change of ministers, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. “Even with the change of portfolios or a changing of government, the planned development activities should continue as scheduled and those development activities should not be affected, “ the President said.

President Rajapaksa was addressing the Nuwara Eliya District Special Development Committee meeting at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat yesterday.

The District Secretary presented the Nuwara Eliya district progress report to the President.

Noting that the playground development activities in Nuwara Eliya commenced by former Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge was now at a standstill , the President instructed the relevant officials to complete the construction as planned. During the discussion the district secretary pointed out that there is a scarcity of technical officers in the district. the President ordered that graduates recruited recently be trained for the task.

President Rajapaksa further said the money deposited in the Samurdhi Banks should only be invested in government institutions.

“Public servants are duty bound to take prompt action to resolve issues in their respective fields. They must not allow things to drag on so that the subject will surface over and over again,” he said.

“Government officials are entrusted with the responsibility to assist the public in obtaining redress to their problems, while performing an exemplary role in the service of the state, the President said.

President Rajapaksa instructed officials to take measures to solve problems in the Nuwara Eliya district focusing their attention on the burning problems, such as, teacher shortage, drinking water, issues relating to farming, animal husbandry, health needs, irrigation, urban development, road construction etc.

The President also instructed officials to try and wean the estate community from eating wheat based products and instil in them the rice eating habit.

He advised officials to maintain the quality of development activities especially where road construction activities were concerned since it was found that certain roads constructed were damaged within a short period.

The officials were instructed to closely monitor the development activities while following approved quality standards.Special attention was drawn to provide infrastructure facilities for the benefit of visitors to Nuwara Eliya.

President Rajapaksa said it is the responsibility of politicians and state officials to make best use of public funds for the numerous development activities.

Accordingly, every official is duty bound to make his utmost contribution to society and the country.

He stressed that the role of a politician should be exemplary to society.