The Executive, Judiciary and Legislature should not show their might to the people but should be more committed to serve the people, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said yesterday.
He said no person has the right to suppress or deprive people of their sovereign rights.
The President said all stakeholders should work in unison to make the people’s aspirations a reality and nobody can shun their responsibility by merely saying that it is not their duty. He was addressing the Special District Development Council meeting of the Ratnapura district at the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council auditorium.
President Rajapaksa said the government’s development march may be crippled if politicians and government officials do not discharge their duties properly.
He said their shortcoming may lead to the government’s development drive being hindered.
The President said nobody should allow this type of situation to take place in Sri Lanka.
“Government institutions are duty bound to remedy the issues of people with a more practical approach. Development programmes on track should be completed on schedule,” President Rajapaksa told government officials in Ratnapura. He urged them to closely monitor development activities, focussing on approved quality standards.
The President instructed them to complete development and infrastructure programmes without delay. President Rajapaksa said a person winning an election should not take it as personal merit but work for the people and the country.
“Parliamentarians, Provincial Councillors and local government agents are people’s representatives. They should bring forward issues to obtain timely and adequate attention,” he said.
President Rajapaksa said the government allocated funds for many development activities to uplift people’s living standards.
“All Provincial Councils have to reap the maximum from funds allocated. It is the officials and politicians, responsibility to get the maximum out of the funds allocated for development activities.
‘Planned development activities should continue as scheduled and these development activities should not be stopped for any reason,” the President said.
When the President was informed that work on the Kalawana bus stand has been stopped for years, President Rajapaksa urged officials to utilise funds for development according to a proper plan designed in consultation with government authorities, without squandering public money.
President Rajapaksa said final benefits of all these projects should pass on to the public and the money and lands utilised in a manner that bring maximum benefit to the country.
The progress and the flaws of development projects implemented in Ratnapura and Kegalle districts and public complaints were discussed at the meeting.
President Rajapaksa said political authorities and public servants are duty bound to take prompt and adequate steps to resolve issues in their fields for the benefit of the people.
He said they must not allow things to drag on so that the subject will surface over and over again. Government officials are entrusted with the responsibility to assist the public in obtaining redress to their problems, while performing an exemplary role in the service of the state, the President said.
Ratnapura District Secretary Sunil Kannangara presented the Ratnapura district progress report to the President.
He said quick development was not visible at rural level though towns and urban areas were developing rapidly.
Officials pointed out there was a scarcity of nurses and teachers in the Ratnapura district. The President ordered provincial education authorities to take suitable action to rectify the issue.
President Rajapaksa instructed officials to take measures to solve the shortage of government officials, drinking water, issues relating to farming, animal husbandry, health needs, irrigation, urban development, road construction etc.
The President ordered officials of the Environment Ministry and Gem Bureau to take measures to rectify issues related to gem mining.
By Dharma Sri Abeyratne in Ratnapura
Source: Daily News (Sri Lanka)
