Minister Devananda calls for free, fair LG polls in North
by Mohammed NAALIR
Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development
and Jaffna district Parliamentarian Douglas Devananda called for free
and fair Local Government polls in the North to stabilise democracy.
A meeting was held at the Government Agent's Office in Jaffna on
Friday to review the development activities being carried out in Jaffna
peninsula. Governor North G.A. Chandrasiri, Government Agent Imelda
Sukumar, Jaffna District Parliamentarian Murugesu Chandrakumar and
Jaffna Mayoress Yogeswari Patkunarasa and Departmental heads of
Government institutions, participated.
The Minister directed Road Development Authority officials to
accelerate work on the A 9 highway and other roads to cater to increased
vehicular traffic which is a prime factor in infrastructure development.
He said people should not get carried away by rumours being spread to
tarnish the image of the Government and Government officials. Local
Government elections should be fair, free and non-violent to give the
public a chance to select their representatives democratically, the
Minister said.
Devananda also said "The Government wants to resettle the people
after the demining clearence certificate is issued by the Ministry of
Deference to ensure the safety of the people.
Employment opportunities, and infrastructure facilities are the other
important factors to be developed to improve the standard of living of
the people who had suffered due to three decades of war".
|