President tells Galle Dev. Committee meeting:

‘Fully implement development projects’

‘No foundation stone - laying unless funds are available’:

Dhanushka GODAKUMBURA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday told both state officials and political representatives not to lay foundation stones to initiate development projects hereafter unless they are certain of having adequate funds to complete the programme.

If needed, the President said, banners and notices could be displayed to announce the initiation of development projects but not foundation stones.

He instructed ministry Secretaries to ensure that the above applies in a viable manner throughout the country.

President Rajapaksa was addressing the Galle District Development Committee meeting at the Hall de Galle auditorium yesterday.

During the meeting the progress of current development activities, needs and future plans were discussed at length with the main areas of focus being education, agriculture, health, irrigation, water resources management and electricity. The President especially drew the attention of the gathering to development projects which have not been initiated yet even after laying foundation stones a long time ago. He told them not to attend any foundation laying ceremony hereafter.

Commenting on state plantations which are currently run by Plantation C ompanies the President said the latter had no right to sell any building material or parts in those estates. The President said that a policy decision should be taken regarding the matter after reviewing details. He also told officials that there are some closed down buildings within the district and advised to make use of them for a viable activity.

He urged politicians of the district to set petty political differences aside and work in unity to fulfill people’s aspirations and needs. The President said it is the responsibility of politicians and state officials to make best use of public funds for numerous development activities.

Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Bandula Gunewardene, Kumara Welgama, Piyasena Gamage, Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody,MPs Nishantha Mutuhettigama, Sajin Vass Gunewardene, Manusha Nanayakkara, Mohan P Silva, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Southern Chief Minister Shan Wijeyalal de Silva, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge, Ministry Secretaries, other politicians and state officials participated.