Identify people’s needs accurately, President tells Local Govt Heads
All heads of Local Government institutions should dedicate themselves
to serve the people in their areas by identifying their needs properly,
President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. He said so when he met Local
Government institution Heads at Temple Trees on Tuesday.
The meeting was held to ascertain the views and suggestions of Heads
of Local Government institutions regarding the preparation of the 2013
Budget. President Rajapaksa who emphasised the need to give priority to
the needs of the people in the respective areas in the preparation of
development plans, also stressed the importance of collective work on
the part of officials in doing it.
A press release issued by the President’s Media Division said
attention was also drawn at the meeting towards the shortage of staff
faced by Local Government institutions.
The President said funds will be allocated in the 2013 Budget to
solve this problem.
It was also emphasised that an adequate number of vehicles would be
provided before the end of December to enable local government
institutions overcome the major problem of transporting garbage.
Several heads of local government institutions pointed out the
problem they encountered in finding adequate space for garbage disposal
and the President directed officials to identify suitable land and
provide them to the local government institutions.
It was pointed out that local government institutions were facing
financial problems due to Provincial Councils holding back taxes due to
them. President Rajapaksa directed Finance Ministry officials to prepare
a proper strategy to ensure that these payments are made to the local
institutions.
Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundera said the ministry hoped
to prepare a budget framework for 2013 to 2015 and the 2013 budget was
being prepared as the first step towards this objective.
He said the ministry hoped to simplify the complex tax structure and
take steps to provide taxes due to local institutions without delay .
The release added that heads of local government institutions
submitted a large number of ideas and views at the meeting.
Minister A M Athaulla, Basil Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Susil
Premajayantha and Dullas Alahapperuma were also present.
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