President at Commonwealth Local Government Conference
in Uganda:
Local Government effective in taking development directly to the
people
“We, in Sri Lanka, have consistently regarded local government as the
most practical expression of the ideals and aspirations of a functioning
democracy,” President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. President Rajapaksa spoke
about the evolution of local government in Sri Lanka, a system that
dates as far back as the 4th century B.C.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa who
delivered the keynote address at the Commonwealth
Local Government Conference (CLGC) 2013 in Kampala, Uganda,
on Tuesday being accompanied by Ugandan President Yoweri
Museveni on the occasion. (Please see full text of speech on
page 8.) Picture by Sudath Silva. |
President Mahinda Rajapaksa was delivering the keynote address at the
Commonwealth Local Government Conference (CLGC) 2013 held in Kampala,
Uganda, on Tuesday, under the theme “Developmental Local Government:
Putting Local Government at the Heart of Development.” “Local government
has not only been practical, but also effective in taking development
directly to the people,” President Rajapaksa said, drawing on Sri
Lanka’s experiences. “I am of the view that a certain level of state
intervention is also necessary in order to ensure equitable distribution
of the benefits and social inclusivity,” he added.
Recalling that it was on a day like this, twenty eight years ago 146
innocent civilians were massacred by terrorists in the vicinity of Sri
Maha Bodhi, President said that there was no human rights organization
then to speak against such killings.
President further said that local government was among the first
target of terrorism. Restoring Local government and accelerating
economic growth were the priorities of Sri Lanka immediately after the
end of the war, President added.
“The first victim of terror, we recall, was the Mayor of Jaffna in
the North,” President Rajapaksa said. “The twin pillars of durable peace
and political stability have opened doors for Sri Lanka to move forward
on accelerated economic and social development.”
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, delivering the inaugural address,
also commended Sri Lanka’s efforts in ending terrorism in the country
and assured Uganda’s presence at the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo this year.
“I salute the people of Sri Lanka for achieving peace,” President
Museveni said. “We’re looking forward to attending the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo in November.”
Addressing the gathering via video message, Commonwealth
Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma said, “CLGC makes an immense
contribution to democracy at a level which citizens benefit most.”
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