Serving community, our prime responsibility - Hettige

We should strive to strengthen peace and stability in the community and no one should be allowed to take political advantage of the people, said Parliamentary Affairs Secretary president Kumarasiri Hettige.

He was speaking at a ceremony at the North Central Province Auditorium to provide cash grants to those who lost their livelihood due to the drought last year. Two hundred families received cash grants of Rs.10,000 each. The programme was launched by the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society.

Parliamentary Affairs Secretary president Kumarasiri Hettige providing relief to those affected by the recent drought

Hettige said SriLanka is not the only country which faces natural disasters, like droughts and floods. However, the damage caused by natural disasters are immense. Nature has become hostile.

Why has nature become so hostile? This is a question that remains on everybody's mind. Man's actions are destroying the environment resulting in negative effects.

The earth has become warmer, which has an impact on all living beings. Industrial countries should shoulder the main responsibility for this.

"It is our responsibility to protect the environment as envisaged by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.The Mahinda Chinthana has created a target programme towards a green environment. Around 35% from last year's budget was allocated for this purpose," he said.

"Our community is very sensitive to natural disasters wherever they occur. They join hands to help others during times of need, which is special human trait. The Sri Lanka Red Cross is an auxiliary to the government. The objective of the SLRCS is to work for the betterment of society by helping the most vulnerable," Hettige said.

"We still recall how our President, then Prime Minister served the most vulnerable people during the period when the country was affected by the tsunami. At that time, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society worked with the government and helped overcome the situation.

'The SLRCS launched many post tsunami programmes. If anyone lends a helping hand to serve those affected by any disaster, it is called humanity.

We should not allow politicians to take undue advantage of the people. Some politicians depended on the 30 year old terrorist war for their survival. Our President put and end to this culture and brought all the communities together," he said.

Forty schools and seven villages were provided with water tanks on the occasion. Deputy Economic Development Minister S M Chandrasena, North Central Province Chief Minister S M Ranjith, SLRCS Deputy Director General Sudath Madugalle and SLRCS Anuradhapura Branch Chairman E R Thilakarathne also spoke at the event. Sri Lanka Red Cross Society President Jagath Abeysinghe, North Central Provincial Council Chairman T M Sirithunga, North Central Provincial Council Secretary Ananda Kularathne, SLRCS Anuradhapura District Secretary Ajith Sooriyabandara, SLRCS Project Manager for Disaster Management Indu Abeyratne and several other officials attended the event.