(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Everyone must be fully committed to make President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s election manifesto a reality, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said.
The Prime Minister made this observation while assuming duties as the minister for Water Supply, Urban Development and Housing Facilities at the Suhurupaya premises in Battaramulla yesterday.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa pointed out that one state institution should not be strengthened by accumulating the power of another institution.
“Each institution should be able to strengthen itself without outside assistance,” he added.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa observed that the new Cabinet’s decisions on public welfare are extremely beneficial to the public. He requested all government institutions to extend their fullest support to him and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to fulfill their responsibilities to the people.
The Prime Minister also said the present government will protect the government servants. He pointed out that public servants should provide an efficient service to the public. He also said that the Presidential election result is a response from the people to the previous government for behaving in the manner it did.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa further said, “This is a very important Ministry. There are several State Ministers appointed for each of its subjects. Those who are attached to this ministry have the responsibility to see that it functions in an efficient manner. The new government has good policies and a vision. Government servants should be committed to implement and realize these policies, despite their political affiliations. We saw some powers that were vested in the Provincial Councils been taken over by the central government during the previous regime. We do not approve of this. The Provincial Councils must have their powers. We should strengthen these institutions. When we take over other institutions, many difficulties arise. We saw many similar issues when we travelled the country during our election campaign.”
“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has presented a manifesto and now we should bring it to life. We have provided electricity for 98%-99% in the country. We need a project to provide clean water for people. Urban development and providing housing facilities should be done methodically. We have a very limited land resource. So we must have a physical plan. We cannot allow one person to carry out development activities as he fancies. We should not allow such action. We need proper physical plans for developing cities. Some hotels are turned into houses while some houses are turned into hotels. Such things cannot happen. We cannot carry out development activities in elephants corridors. We must avoid all such adhoc development activities,” Prime Minster Rajapaksa said.
The Premier pointed out that, “Today a very small Cabinet sat and proposed an extensive plan that would benefit our people. The plan shall rejuvenate the economy and provide many concessions and facilities for the people. We have taken steps to reduce taxes for religious places and VAT. We will fulfill all the promises we gave to our people. For the President to fulfill his responsibilities towards the country, we must fulfill our responsibilities too.
“Government servants should provide a good service for the public. For example, a person who recently came to Sri Lanka was not able to get his work done at a government institution because all the directors were not present. Such incidents should not happen. So it is important that the government servants fulfill their responsibilities towards the general public. We hope the ministry staff will make sure they provide an efficient service. We will also make sure to bring in an Act that will prevent government servants from having to appear before the FCID. We shall provide government servants the protection they need,” he added.
State Minister for Urban Development Gamini Lokuge said, “I would like to extend my gratitude to President Gotabaya Rakapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for giving me this opportunity to serve our people. We had to carry out a great struggle in the last four and half years to achieve this victory. When we were in Government, we made Colombo a clean city. We promised to make this country a safe and developed country to live in. We have already started the journey towards fulfilling this promise,” he said.
Secretary to the Ministry of Water Supply & Urban Development Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama said, “We should all be committed in fulfilling President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s manifesto. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is a great leader who contributed much for the development of this country. Therefore, it would be easier for us to work with him. The staff of this ministry has a great responsibility.We will use optimum technology to increase the service of this ministry.”
