‘Considering vast development programs’:

Govt confident of victory at LG polls

by Uditha KUMARASINGHE

SLFP General Secretary and Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Sunday Observer that the Government firmly believes that the voters of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and other Municipal Councils will vote for the UPFA at the forthcoming Local Government polls considering the vast development priorities launched by the Government in such Municipal Council areas. He said voters are well aware that it is of no use to vote for the Opposition at this juncture. The main Opposition UNP is not in a position to think of the country or even retain power in a rural development society until it resolves its internal crisis.

“I don’t think people will cast their vote in favour of an Opposition such as the UNP which is facing a severe internal crisis. Therefore, we feel that the UPFA would gain power in all local government bodies,” the Minister said.

The Minister said, “We have to accept the fact that the UNP too has a vote base in these Municipal Council areas. That was the result of the political culture created in this country. Earlier, the SLFP led Government had been unable to win the CMC.”

The Government under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has launched a series of development programs in these Municipal Council areas during the past few years. Anybody can see the massive development carried out by the Urban Development Authority in the Colombo city under the guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Many development initiatives have been launched by the UDA, he said.

“I believe the people will never enjoy the benefits of such services under a UNP administration. Therefore, I am confident that the people would vote the UPFA to power in these Local Government bodies, including the CMC at the forthcoming Local Government polls”, the Minister said.