(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa yesterday (02) called on Governors of provinces and District Secretaries not to allow disruption of people’s lives and support the continuation of the industries and development process uninterrupted.
President Rajapaksa has said that Governors and District Secretaries should personally intervene to maintain essential services without disrupting the lives of the people.
He said that despite the current situation, the country’s economy could not be allowed to collapse and the contribution of all was needed to overcome the challenge and move forward as a country.
President Rajapaksa directed the Governors and District Secretaries to extend their full support to the continuation of the factories and development projects.
The President gave these instructions at the monthly meeting with Provincial Governors and District Secretaries at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday morning (02).
The President pointed out the importance of inquiring into the environment that can be maintained in compliance with health recommendations instead of closing a factory or project at once when an infected person is identified in connection with the factory or development project.
The challenges and problems faced by the people in the face of travel restrictions were discussed at length at today’s meeting.
President Rajapaksa said that although the government had instructed to maintain industry and essential services in compliance with proper health recommendations, there were reports of shortcomings in the implementation of the program locally.
President Rajapaksa instructed to properly implement the mechanism for purchasing surplus fruits and vegetables from farmers and distributing at local level and emphasized that it was the responsibility of all parties concerned not to allow the agrarian economy to collapse.
Projects being implemented with local funding and foreign loan assistance must properly meet the relevant targets.
The President also instructed the Governors and Government Agents to maintain direct relations with the State Ministers and their Secretaries to continue development programs such as the 10,000 Tanks Program, Development of 100,000 km of roads, 1000 National Schools, Houses, Regional Hospitals, drinking water, and renewable energy.
President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka is currently receiving the full number of COVID-19 vaccine doses required to continually maintain the vaccination and the process is being carried out in a scientific and proper manner. He said he expects further support from the political authorities as well as all public officials including governors to provide the necessary support to the health sector without inconveniencing the people.
President Rajapaksa said that the government has decided to provide organic fertilizer to farmers free of charge and asked the governors to provide the necessary assistance to overcome the challenge of promoting organic farming.
It was also stated that the government is planning to provide assistance to small businesses and farmers’ associations for the production of organic fertilizer and to provide loans at concessionary interest rates through state banks.
The Governors commended the Government and the President for its commitment to controlling the current epidemic, safeguarding the lives of the people and making the future of the country a success despite challenges, President’s Media Division said.
The District Secretaries pointed out that the gazetting of ports, railways, customs, fuel supply, public transport services, banks and local government bodies as essential services was a great relief to them in carrying out their duties.
Provincial Governors, Secretary to the President PB Jayasundera, Chief Adviser to the President Lalith Weeratunga and government officials were also present at the discussion.
