‘Officials and people must work hand in hand’ – Minister

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

“Government officials and people should work hand in hand to achieve the development goals in that area.

That would be the most practical way to do away with waste and gain maximum productivity” said Anuradhapura District Parliamentarian Sehan Semasinghe at a media conference conveyed by him and the North Central Provincial Health Minister H.B. Semasinghe recently.

He said further that the Nachchaduwa Divisional Secretary J.W.S. Kithsiri has been working hard and endeavouring round the clock for the benefit and the welfare of the people in the division.

He had been so careful, efficient and people friendly that out of the funds granted by the government for infrastructure development in the area, not even a cent was returned to the Treasury. He further stated that in 2012 Rs. 35 million had been spent to upgrade the rural development activities in the Anuradhapura District alone.

“The government granted Rs. 1,500,000 under the 5,000 primary schools and 1,000 secondary schools development program to the Anuradhapura electorate.

Parents of children have been so dedicated that they, in association with the Divisional Secretary and the other officials were instrumental in implementing school development projects valued at Rs 2,363,933 in the area Shehan Semasinghe stated.

The MP said that government officials should not adopt indifferent attitudes towards the public merely because they were being paid their monthly salaries and also villagers should not wait until the government fulfills all their needs relating to rural infrastructure, educational and healthcare services.

In this context, government officials and the residents in the Nachchaduwa area had been exemplary in achieving the progress by integrated efforts, he commented further.

Shehan Semasinghe revealed to the media that with the support of the villagers, the Nachchaduwa Divisional Secretary had been successful in completing the tank desilting programme worth Rs 6,000,000 and that a sum of Rs. 19,000,000 had been invested under the 'One project for one village' program.

The MP lauded the role of the provincial press in guiding politicians and officials to do their best to the public and to do away with waste corruption negligence, malpractices and inefficiency by exercising creative criticism.