Govt will not allow development effort to be stymied

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

No one will be allowed to retard the country's development drive to fulfill their political ambitions, Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said. Participating at the launch of a Maga Neguma project recently in Katugampola, Minister Yapa said that the government was always willing to hear out constructive criticism.

"People in our society have varied patterns of thinking. Some people cannot understand development and they do not like changes," the minister observed. "There are people in our country who do not have any positive views about the development undertaken by the government and make various negative comments, " the minister said.

Yapa said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has caused a radical change in the country. All should accept this truth putting aside their political differences.

"The President succeeded in defeating terrorism and bringing peace to the country due to his visionary leadership," Minister Yapa said.

He said there was a huge development in the country's health, education, agriculture, transport, power and energy and irrigation sectors.

This era can be considered as the golden era of all these sectors. "There are people who cannot stand the progress achieved by the government. So they spread rumours. But we know that the majority will never accept these rumours.

The government has a responsibility to protect the people, provide infrastructure facilities, ensure law and order and safety of the countrymen, provide employment opportunities and the government is carrying out these functions properly," the minister said.