Constitutional amendments vital for development :

SB stresses importance of two-thirds majority

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy South Group Correspondent

The destructive war is over and the situation in the country has returned to normal, but we have the task of rebuilding and developing the country which is abundantly blessed with natural resources. For this we will have to strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and give him a two thirds majority in Parliament at the forthcoming General Election, said UPFA candidate for the Kandy district and former Minister S.B. Dissanayake.

He was addressing a meeting after opening his propaganda office in Kandy.

He said the present situation in the country is opportune to attract foreigners to invest in various fields in the island. However, to attract them, changes will have to be made. Investors play an important role in the economy.

“We cannot perform this task alone so we must join hands with others to make this country an investment-promoting country.

“ Even a country like China opened its doors for investors from other countries, and opted for the open economy.”

He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said that more industries should be created to provide more job opportunities which in turn will develop the country.

“Our resources are waiting to be tapped and developed and we can no longer allow them to remain idle.

Time is a very important factor and we cannot waste it. To achieve all this, certain amendments will have to be brought to the Constitution for which we require the majority in Parliament” Dissanayake said.

He said President Rajapaksa has got rid of terrorism in the country and we must not allow it to raise its ugly head again.

The money used to combat terrorism could now be used for the development of the country by building schools, constructing roads and providing other facilities such as transport and hospitals.

More water schemes will have to be constructed to provide people with pure drinking water. Likewise, rural electrification schemes will have to be launched to uplift the living standards of the people.

The power supply to the national grid will be improved with the opening of the coal power plant in Norchcholai while other power supply schemes are in progress.