One country, one nation and one law, my aim – President
Rasika Somarathna in Nuwaraeliya
Sri Lanka today is a nation where all communities can live together,
enjoying their rights equally, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said
yesterday. He said his sole objective was one country, one nation and
one law.
President Rajapaksa said the government has always aimed to provide
equal opportunities and facilities for all, irrespective of differences,
and efforts in this regard today were paying rich dividends.
He said Nuwaraeliya district, considered developmentally backward in
comparison to other parts of the country, was forging ahead due to the
government’s development activities. The President was speaking after
inaugurating work on a new district hospital for Nuwaraeliya.
The new hospital adjoining the old one is to be built at Rs 6,689
million.
Eighty percent of the cost is provided as a soft loan by the Dutch
government and 15 percent by the People’s Bank.
The proposed new six storey building complex will include
state-of-the-art facilities with five operating theatres, patients’
wards, laboratories and canteens among other facilities.
The President addressing the gathering after inaugurating work with
the laying of the foundation stone, said the hospital was the
fulfillment of another aspiration of the people under the Mahinda
Chinthana.
He said the proposed hospital will not only benefit the people of the
region but people from other areas as well because Nuwaraeliya was a
city often visited by local and foreign tourists.
President Rajapaksa said the estate community which was behind in
development in comparison to others was coming forward today due to
better facilities and opportunities.
He said the government was committed and continues to engage in many
initiatives to uplift the living standards of the estate community.
President Rajapaksa said the government acquired over 100 plantation
sector hospitals and developed them with modern facilities. He said many
initiatives have been launched to provide housing facilities.
The President said line room accommodation for workers will be
completely replaced with proper housing in the near future. President
Rajapaksa said the same could be said of education facilities and added
that government always considers funds spent on health and education as
an investment for the future.
He urged the children of the estate community to pursue higher
education for a better future.. The President also addressed the
gathering in Tamil.
Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, C B Ratnayake and Navin Dissanayake,
Deputy Minister Muttu Sivalingam, Health Ministry Secretary Dr Nihal
Jayatilleke and Nuwaraeliya Hospital director Dr Aruna Jayasinghe also
spoke. Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Governor Tikiri
Kobbekaduwa, Dutch embassy and Health Ministry officials, staff of the
Nuwareliya Hospital and public were present. |