(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lankan President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa emphasizes that it is the responsibility of the people’s representatives to act in accordance with the aspirations of the people and commit to build a working country that fulfills the people’s expectations.
The President pointed out that the functioning of the Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas is a timely necessity in order to reach that objective.
The President made these remarks during a meeting with the heads of the Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas at the President’s House Saturday(28).
The President thanked all the local government representatives who were a great support at the grassroots level for their victory in the Presidential election.
“It is the challenging responsibility of all the people’s representatives to fulfill the aspirations of the people who delivered a remarkable victory. It is the responsibility of everybody to commit to this endeavor,” he pointed out.
“People are eagerly watching how we work from garbage disposal to lifting the economy. People should not be burdened when it comes to meeting their daily needs. It is the responsibility of all public servants to ensure an efficient and people-friendly public service,” the President said.
He stressed that the public service should always be free from corruption.
The President noted that in 2015 people defeated the existing government while the country was on the path of development and the economy was strong. He emphasized that the victory achieved by this government without identifying the reasons for rejection in 2015 cannot be carried forward.
“We should understand the reasons that led the people to reject the government. Otherwise, we will not be able to move forward with our victory,” he explained.
“We need to empower collapsed businesses, secure investors and contribute lost jobs to the workforce again. This will help reform the economy,” the President said.
He said the foreign investors’ confidence the country had before 2015 should be restored.
The contribution of experts and professionals will be a great strength in the process of taking the country on its path, the President said.
President Rajapaksa mentioned that while farmers are already getting the benefits of export agricultural crops, the entire population should receive the benefits of tax incentives and other strategies.
The President also stressed that the 19th Amendment has been a major obstacle to state governance. He stressed the need for a strong Parliament to remove the legislation. The President said that it is the key factor to fulfilling the aspirations of the people.
Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Local Government, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, Ministers Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Johnston Fernando and Prasanna Ranatunga were also present.
