News
Opponents of new constitution should visit NE, says President
View(s):President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday alleged that certain elements in the country were determined to derail the ongoing constitutional-making process with a negative campaign in the south. “We have taken steps to devolve powers within an undivided country. Those who are trying to mislead the people in the South that Constitutional reforms would lead to a division of the country should realize that the country was not even divided during the war,” President Sirisena said in Vavuniya at the State Services mobile Clinic organised by the Home Affairs Ministry.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Vajira Abeywardena and Rishad Bathiudeen also participated at the ceremony where mobile services of many ministries were offered to the public. Noting that the country’s development as a whole was not carried out adequately in the northern and eastern parts of the country, President Sirisena urged those opposing the constitutional reforms to pay a visit to those areas to see for themselves the conditions there.
“Constitutional reforms are necessary to ensure parallel development in all parts of the country. We have to consider the consequences if such problems are not identified and relief provided,” President Sirisena said emphasising that the government is on the right track to resolve past issues. Premier Wickremesinghe handed over more than 4000 land titles to families who were resettled in the district after the end of the war.
Mother of Vidya Sivaloganthan, the victim of a gruesome gang rape and murder in Punkudutheevu in Jaffna was among the housing beneficiaries who received land titles from the Premier.