Measures to be taken to prevent land grabs

Internal Security, Home Affairs and Disaster Management State Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said measures would be taken to prevent land grabing, which had occurred extensively, and other issues that were overlooked at the district and divisional secretariat levels, a few years back.

He said the Ministry had been entrusted with a vast responsibility by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to look into those issues to serve people. After assuming duties at a ceremony held at the Ministry in Narahenpita, yesterday, he said the time had come to move out from the comfort zones to commence working from the ground.

“Instead of sitting in comfortable air-conditioned office rooms, we need to move out to serve people at grass-root level,” he said adding that he expects the fullest support from all stakeholders of the State Ministry. Pledging to look into the grievances of government servants, Minister Rajapaksa had urged the State officials to work honestly to serve the people.

He also requested them to work collectively to implement programs of all institutions that come under the Ministry’s purview to achieve the targets spelled out under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vision.

Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne stressed the need of performing duties and responsibilities of the respective institutions and departments under the purview of the State Ministry to achieve the set goals.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed Parliamentarian Chamal Rajapaksa as the State Minister during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Temple of Tooth in Kandy on Aug 12.

Pix by Indika Handuwala