More vehicles for local bodies by year end

by Shirley Wijesinghe

There will be no problems for vehicles in local bodies throughout the country by the end of this year, said Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon.

He was addressing a function organised to present 95 double cabs and 20 hand tractors at the BMICH.

The Ministry spent Rs. 124 million to purchase 95 double cabs and Rs. 6 million on 20 Four-wheeled tractors and trailers.

These vehicles were distributed specially among the selected local bodies of the Eastern Province for the "Nagenahira Nawodaya" accelerated development drive on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The minister told heads of local bodies that "these vehicles were not for your" own travel but for the public service.

Take care of these vehicles and don't misuse them".

The Cabinet paper submitted for the allocation of vehicles had been rejected five times but the collective and continuous effort of the Ministry was behind its success, he said.

Ministry Secretary Casian Herath, D.P. Hettiarachchi also spoke.