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| Sunday, 6 January 2002 |
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Mahroof to improve urban sector for socio-economic development by Dr. M. Ramajeyam. Sri Lanka is at a critical stage in the evolution of its society and economy. An effective urban policy is one instrument that can be used to overcome a number of the present difficulties and allow opportunities to be realized. In fact the role of the urban sector in the national economy has become extremely crucial at the present juncture. The urban development sector project aims at providing urgent urban infrastructure and for accelerating the Socio-economic and environmental development of project towns with the view to achieve overall development of the Urban sectors. It is essential in urban planning to take decisions democratically after obtaining the views and proposals of all relevant parties instead of taking one-sided decisions without others view. Mr. Mahroof has been appointed as the Minister of Urban public utilities under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. In keeping with the ideals of the United National Party's policy the minister will have the public participation, public discussion and transparency in all its development activities. All these will be initiated and promoted by Mr. Mahroof for the purpose of betterment and development by urban sector. Though the Urban Development Sector project has made substantial progress we are of the view that under the leadership by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Urban Public utilities Minister Mahroof will strengthen the technical and financial capacities. Besides he will also focus his attention on urban poor, facilitate private investment and also address environmental issues. We also hope that the minister will envisage the development of a cross section of townships scattered throughout the country with the view to improve the quality of life of the poor segments of society mainly by the provisions of urban utilities, amenities and facilities. In fact, when the townships once developed will promote bottom up development and would hopefully perform the role of catalysts for development and growth with great social equity. We also believe that this will not only be a major task, but also will be an important objective of the Government's development policy. Mr. Mahroof is not only a successful businessman but also a Minister with tremendous hard work, devotion and dedication who is more concerned about the amelioration of the poor. Mr. Mahroof was born in Grandpass in the Colombo central electorate and was educated at St. Benedict College, Kotahena. Since leaving school he has been closely associated with the masses and involved in serving them in every possible way. Even his father late Mr. C. M. M. Mahroof (proctor) was a member of the Municipal Council who rendered yeoman service for the poor people of the area. His mother late Mrs. Noor Shafeeka Mahroof was greatly involved in social and religious activities. Mr. Mahroof as a member of the Colombo Central Massangasweediya Municipal ward and also as Deputy Mayor of Colombo served for more than 16 years and as chief organizer by the United National Party for Colombo central electorate with unsurpassed distinction and unsullied honour. Mr. Mahroof entered the political arena through the introduction and guidance of the former minister of sports the late Vincent Perera and thereafter he worked very closely with late President R. Premadasa and was greatly involved in "Gam Udawa" program. The conspicuous quality of Urban Public Utilities Minister Mahroof is that he possesses the unruffled calm, which is very essential to render incomparable service to the downtrodden masses of the Colombo district. He never forgot the people of Colombo central and is very often seen visiting the remote areas of the electorate to improve the roads, health, houses, electricity and educational facilities of the children. The noble qualities in him are his popularity from all quarters for his fairness and impartiality in various national, social, religious activities. One outstanding quality in him is to receive even his political opponents with humility and cordiality. There are many politicians who put politics before human kindness, but Mr. Mahroof is gentle man to his fingertips who never considered political position above humanness. Indeed, the sincere unstinted services of a politician of the calibre of Mr. Mahroof have become very essential to the country today and we are confident that he will pilot the affairs of his ministry to the greatest satisfaction of the people with unsurpassed distinction. |
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