'Economic and infrastructure development should go hand in hand'

Sabaragamuwa group corr

Economic development should go hand in hand with infrastructure and other development if the country is to achieve progress and prosperity, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

Production of goods and services should be improved to develop the country's economy. The village economy should be strengthened by increasing family income to increase production, he said. The minister said so addressing several awareness programmes on the Deyata Kirula 2014 national development project attended by people's representatives and public officials in the Kegalle district regarding the empowerment of people and resolving their problems at several venues on June 8.

The programmes were held at the Ruwanwella Rajasinghe MMV, Deraniyagala Kanishta Vidyalaya, Yatiyantota, Siriwardene MV, Bulathkohupitiya Sri Visuddharama Viharaya and Pindeniya MMV.

Minister Rajapaksa said along with the Deyata Kirula 2014 project a number of state and non government institutions would come to the villages to help people to increase their individual incomes.

"It is the duty of us all to prepare the village community to embrace this great opportunity."

The minister said arrangements had been made to take the Deyata Kirula 2014 Development project to the villages.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed them to learn from past experiences of the Deyata Kirula and develop the 2014 project into a more successful project with the active participation of the people in the villages.

"There are nearly four to five state officials in each grama niladhari division. Plans are under way to bring them together to solve the problems and issues in the village by visiting the people."

The minister said the three districts coming under the Deyata Kirula 2014 project consisted of 27 electorates.

The Deyata Kirula would endeavour to resolve all unresolved problems and issues in them.

The programme to be implemented step by step would act on data received from the 2012 census to provide a compact house with strong walls, roof and other infrastructure facilities as required.

However, much the family was strengthened economically, a disciplined society could not be established unless moral and spiritual values were promoted.

Therefore all places of religious worship and the clergy of all religions should be requested to lend their support towards inculcating moral and spiritual values among rural communities.

He said the Police which catered to public security should conduct awareness programmes among the public to minimise crime.

Ports and Telecommunications Minister and Co-ordinator of Deyata Kirula, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya also spoke. Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Maheepala Herath and people's representatives and SLFP organisers in the three districts were present.