'Improving people's living standards, govt's priority'

The government is working hard to develop the country and improve the living standards of the people by creating more employment opportunities said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

He was addressing a meeting to mark the distribution of water tanks among people in Ayliddy, Kinniya, encountering drinking water problems and school equipment and sports goods among pre-schools in the area recently. The programme costing Rs five million was organized by the 'Piyadasuna' Foundation and sponsored by Sarath Samarakoon, Working Director National Gem and Jewellery Authority.

Minister Yapa said that catering to the welfare of the people devoid of communal, religious or other discrimination was the prime objective of the government.

Creating communal and religious amity was the underlying theme of all government policies and programmes. The rights and privileges of all sectors of the people would be stabilized and ensured under these policies and programmes.

"We are today living in a technological age. As such we cannot stay aloof from the world at large and its modern development trends. Our intention is to enable children in the far corners of the country to pursue their education activities successfully like their counterparts in other areas of the country and come up in life in keeping with modern world trends", he said.