Laws should not obstruct service to public – President

* No one can interfere with people’s sovereignty

* Local govt members have special responsibility in regions’ development

All Acts which obstruct or hinder the performance of services intended for public well- being should be amended, President Mahinda Rajapaksa told politicians from local authorities at Temple Trees on Saturday.

The President said Acts which do not serve any practical purpose should not be allowed to get in the way of the government’s development initiatives intended for the people’s benefit.

He said there were attempts by pro – LTTE elements to win what they could not gain from the war, through other means. Requesting the members to be alert to these efforts, the President said no one could interfere with the people’s sovereignty.

The meeting was called to seek views of local government members to be considered when preparing the 2013 budget.

President Rajapaksa said local government members had a special responsibility in the development of their regions which in turn could supplement the development work for the country.

He said they should be committed to uphold this responsibility and work towards fulfilling people’s aspirations.

Local government politicians expressed their views and presented a number of proposals to be considered in the 2013 budget.

Some of the important suggestions expressed by local councillors were on the need to allocate more funds to further uplift schools that have not been identified as secondary or primary schools and increased allocations for local government institutions for the development of small and medium scale industries.

They also highlighted the need to allocate more funds to develop roads under Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas and maintain carpeted roads.

Another area which came under discussion was allocating funds for human resources and sports development at regional level.

Proposals to fund small scale power generation projects in the provinces were also discussed.

Rectifying the teacher shortage in rural schools and problems faced by parents when admitting children to schools too were discussed at length.

Another matter pointed out by the members was the difficulties faced by the people in the Uda Walawe area due to wild elephants.

The President said steps will be taken to insure all houses in the affected areas with government funds.

President Rajapaksa also told politicians that they need to be at their offices every Wednesday to meet the public. He said ministers, secretaries and Pradeshiya Sabha chairpersons should be present at their offices every Wednesday.

He instructed authorities to issue circulars in this connection.

Ministers Dinesh Gunewardena, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Susil Premajayantha, Basil Rajapaksa and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Bandula Gunewardena, Mahinda Samarasinghe, other parliamentarians, Governors, Chief Ministers and local authority members of the UPFA participated.

 

Courtesy: Daily News