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| Sunday, 11 April 2004 |
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'Derailed' projects back on track - WPC Chief Minister by Deepal Warnakulasuriya New Chief Minister of the Western Province Nandana Mendis assured that all the 'derailed' development projects will with the assistance of the new UPFA government. The Chief Minister said that the former government had slashed financial grants for the past two years and the Council had to stop a number of projects. He said that they have only a short time to work on it as the period of the council will be over by May 5. However, he said that all the programs so far carried out by the Council will continue. "Grant for education was slashed by 65 per cent and for health 70 per cent. The UNF government wanted us to look aloof. The number of requests to the Finance Minister as well as to the Ministry Secretary pleading for grants didn't work out," new Chief Minister added. He further added that the government decision reasoned them to halt a number of projects on the way. He said that the grants for the year 2004 has not yet been received by them. He also admitted that the council had more than thousand vacancies for several posts but the government never allowed them for new recruitment. "What the government did was only pay their salaries", he added. Mendis speaking to the Sunday Observer few hours after taking oaths as the Chief Minister said that he was not elated by his appointment, but will get ready for the next election possibly by the end of June. They will not have to make a huge effort as the country is in election mood. He also assured huge victory, with the services already rendered by us during the past five years. The PA has secured 48 seats out of 104 in the Western province while the UNP secured only 46 and the rest by other parties. However, he was not sure whether they (PA and JVP) would consider as the Alliance or as two parties. He was the Minister of Health, Indigenous Medicine and Rural Development while he was appointed to the new post. He has also served several times as acting Chief Minister. Presently, he is also the Minister of Education, Local Government, Housing, Highways and Law and Order. He further said that compared to other provincial councils, the western Provincial council caters to not only to the residents of the province but all the provincial residents. He said that 40 per cent of patients in Negombo Hospital from the North-Western Province and 50 in Avissawella Hospital who were from Sabaragamuwa. "The situation was the same in several other hospitals too", the new Minister added. |
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