Executive, Judiciary and Legislature must be committed to serve
masses - President
Dharma Sri Abeyratne in Ratnapura
The Executive, Judiciary and Legislature should not show their might
to the people but should be more committed to serve the people,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.
He said no person has the right to suppress or deprive people of
their sovereign rights.
The President said all stakeholders should work in unison to make the
people’s aspirations a reality and nobody can shun their responsibility
by merely saying that it is not their duty. He was addressing the
Special District Development Council meeting of the Ratnapura district
at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council auditorium.
President Rajapaksa said the government’s development march may be
crippled if politicians and government officials do not discharge their
duties properly.
He said their shortcoming may lead to the government’s development
drive being hindered.
The President said nobody should allow this type of situation to take
place in Sri Lanka.
“Government institutions are duty bound to remedy the issues of
people with a more practical approach. Development programmes on track
should be completed on schedule,” President Rajapaksa told government
officials in Ratnapura. He urged them to closely monitor development
activities, focussing on approved quality standards.
The President instructed them to complete development and
infrastructure programmes without delay. President Rajapaksa said a
person winning an election should not take it as personal merit but work
for the people and the country.
"Parliamentarians, Provincial Councillors and local government agents
are people's representatives. They should bring forward issues to obtain
timely and adequate attention," he said.
President Rajapaksa said the government allocated funds for many
development activities to uplift people's living standards.
"All Provincial Councils have to reap the maximum from funds
allocated. It is the officials and politicians, responsibility to get
the maximum out of the funds allocated for development activities.
'Planned development activities should continue as scheduled and
these development activities should not be stopped for any reason," the
President said.
When the President was informed that work on the Kalawana bus stand
has been stopped for years, President Rajapaksa urged officials to
utilise funds for development according to a proper plan designed in
consultation with government authorities, without squandering public
money.
President Rajapaksa said final benefits of all these projects should
pass on to the public and the money and lands utilised in a manner that
bring maximum benefit to the country.
The progress and the flaws of development projects implemented in
Ratnapura and Kegalle districts and public complaints were discussed at
the meeting.
President Rajapaksa said political authorities and public servants
are duty bound to take prompt and adequate steps to resolve issues in
their fields for the benefit of the people.
He said they must not allow things to drag on so that the subject
will surface over and over again. 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.
Ratnapura District Secretary Sunil Kannangara presented the Ratnapura
district progress report to the President.
He said quick development was not visible at rural level though towns
and urban areas were developing rapidly.
Officials pointed out there was a scarcity of nurses and teachers in
the Ratnapura district. The President ordered provincial education
authorities to take suitable action to rectify the issue.
President Rajapaksa instructed officials to take measures to solve
the shortage of government officials, drinking water, issues relating to
farming, animal husbandry, health needs, irrigation, urban development,
road construction etc.
The President ordered officials of the Environment Ministry and Gem
Bureau to take measures to rectify issues related to gem mining. |