'Fulfill responsibilities properly' President tells to LG politicians

President Maithripala Sirisena instructed local government politicians to commit themselves to fulfill their responsibilities towards the regional development works. He also referred to the complaints made by the Divisional Secretaries that they cannot obtain dates from local government politicians to discuss issues related to regional development activities.

The President gave these instructions during a special coordinating meeting on Districts Development works, held at the Miloda institution, on Janury 18 under the patronage of the President.

He also said to the local government politicians to expedite the regional development works utilizing the government allocated funds in this regard for the year 2016.

The President pointed out the importance of local government politicians and public servants working together to achieve success in the Government’s development programmes and  further said that the officials cannot take decisions without the support of the politicians and they should give their fullest cooperation in this regard.

President Sirisena said that the Regional Development Committees, District Development  Committees and District Agricultural Committees must hold their meetings regularly and this will pave the way to discuss the shortage of the requirements of the people in their respective districts and to provide required facilities and resources to them.

He also said that it is the responsibility of the local government politicians to look into whether the government has taken action to provide fertilizer subsidies to the farmers as well as to purchase paddy from the farmers.

“At least, once in a three month District Development Committees should hold their regular meetings”, the President said that giving instructions that the local government politicians should allocate the dates for the whole year in this regard and to inform the Divisional Secretaries.

The President also said that he will give instructions to the Finance Minister to appoint a separate officer in the Ministry to provide solutions to issues faced by the Divisional Secretaries regarding the funds.

President Sirisena said that the political stability in the country is a must for the development of the country and as the new government has that required political stability in the country. It is the responsibility of everyone to utilizing that situation , commit themselves to develop the country as well as its citizens, he said.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, the Leader of the Opposition- R. Sambandan, Cabinet Ministers, Local government politicians, Secretary to the President P.B. Abeykoon, Ministry Secretaries, District Secretaries,Divisional Secretaries and the Public servants participated in the meeting.