Govt committed to serve masses

Beginning today, the Sunday Observer will publish “Voice of the President”, a round-up of highlights from President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s diary. The weekly series will focus on key events, meetings, public engagements, speeches, important pronouncements and policy decisions of the President.

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

The Presidential diary saw a number of important meetings and initiatives last week, highlighted by the inauguration of a mega housing project. President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who adopts a hands-on approach to major development projects was present at the opening ceremony of ‘Jana Sevana’ housing program on Wednesday. He was also overseeing flood relief efforts, chairing several important meetings including the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Flood Relief.

Relief for flood hit public servants

President Rajapaksa, who met public servants affected by floods and landslides on February 15 at Temple Trees, said the government had decided to extend the re-payment period of the distress loan from 10 to 24 months as a relief measure for the government servants.

The meeting was held with the trade unionists to discuss their salary anomalies and other problems faced by them.

Directing the officials to look into such matters without delay, the President also instructed them to look into problems relating to the official language and promotions.

He also instructed the officials to harness the services of the public servants for national development through systematic training.

President Rajapaksa said maintaining an efficient health service was always the responsibility of the government. He said the health services could not come to a standstill at any point and directed the officials to take prompt action to solve the issues in the health sector.

Pledging support to achieve the targets set in the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma, the trade unionists assured the President that they would help the government to solve the problems in the public sector through proper discussions.

The first meeting of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on flood relief was held on the same day to reviewed the rehabilitation work carried out in the flood hit districts.

“Helping the flood affected people is the responsibility of all political leaders in those districts and especially government servants should exercise a greater responsibility in helping the people.

All such efforts should be free of politics and not targeted at votes,” he said.

He instructed the official to formulate long-term, systematic projects to address floods and landslides instead of resorting to temporary patch-ups.

He underscored the importance of expediting infrastructure restoration, rebuilding roads, and tanks, and canals and irrigation schemes under the supervision of District Secretaries and with the assistance of all Ministries, State departments and civil organisations.

At the discussions the PTF stressed the need for relocating people affected by landslides and providing assistance to rebuild the damaged houses.

The President who Instructed the PTF to commence the restoration work soon, stressed the need for introducing an insurance policy to cover the losses to the paddy cultivation during the natural disasters.

The rehabilitation programs will be launched in flood-hit Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Kandy and the Kilinochchi districts. The PTF told the President that Rs. 1,457 million is needed to rehabilitate 1,444 small and medium irrigation projects, which are fully or partly damaged due to the floods.

The PTF told the President that out of an estimated 700,000 hectares of paddy cultivation during this Maha season 200,000 hectares leading to an estimated loss of 800,000 metric tons of paddy were destroyed by the floods. President Rajapaksa also instructed the officials to provide employment for people in the affected districts for a wage of Rs. 500 per day in the restoration worksites to help them eke out a living.

Mega housing initiative

President Rajapaksa laid the foundation last Wednesday for the first housing scheme under the ‘Jana Sevana’ housing development project to build over one million houses so that every Sri Lankan will get a decent house to live in under the Mahinda Chinthana.

“No one can prevent the government’s efforts to serve the people by tarnishing its image. The government is committed to ensure a prosperous country for all”, he said.

The President told the gathering that the government had not overlooked the people’s problems and the aim of the government was to provide decent houses for every Sri Lankan.

The foundation to construct 560 houses at Mihindupura, Kirulapone was laid to provide houses for shanty dwellers.

“Should children in slums continue to live there throughout their lives? They are vulnerable to various crimes and abuses and are denied of basic rights to live. As a responsible government we are committed to provide decent houses for shanty dwellers”, he said.

President Rajapaksa said the government would not only give them good houses but also to create a good environment for them with improved facilities. “The children living in a decent environment will lead good lives and this government, which brought peace after defeating decades long terrorism is fully committed to serve the people to make their lives better. Some interested parties with ulterior motives are making allegations against the government but that will not hinder the government’s commitment to create a secure future for the future generation”, he said.

He also said that the core philosophy in the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ was to uplift the standard of the family by fostering the individual and thereby contributing to the development of the village and eventually the entire country.

President Rajapaksa said, “Sri Lanka is developing fast after ending the deadly terrorism that destroyed the country for nearly 30 years. The government has launched the ‘Mathata Thitha’ to combat alcohol, tobacco and drugs abuse. The per capita income which reached a maximum of US $ 1,030 after Independence has been doubled to reach US $ 2,400 during the past five years. We have launched mega development projects, while fighting to end LTTE terrorism. All Sri Lankans are enjoying the true sense of freedom while experiencing a massive development drive in the country,” he said.

Village, the centre of development

President Rajapaksa, who met UPFA Kandy district candidates contesting the forthcoming local government polls, on February 18, said the present era would go down in history as the one which served the villages, granted the rights of villagers and developed the villages in its efforts to make the future better for all the villagers.

He said under the government policy which is aimed at uplifting the living standards of each individual, each family, each village and eventually the country, the local government representatives have a huge responsibility of helping the government to achieve its final goal.

“You should serve the people to achieve the national targets and improve the lives of people and the country”, he said.

The President warned those who try to create artificial price hikes during elections and to mislead the public.

“These organised conspirators made futile efforts during the last Presidential Election by creating a rice shortage in the country. They increased a kilogram of rice to Rs 120. But people gave me a massive mandate and elected me President despite these sinister attempts,” President Rajapaksa said.

He said the prices of commodities are dropping and they would drop further.