Plantation sector too needs good roads -Muthu Sivalingam

by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

Arumugam Thondaman who is also the Chairman of the District Development Council, Nuwara Eliya at the recent meeting held at the District Secretariat said that the discussions and deliberations, and his speech in English or Tamil should be translated in Sinhala. The others' speeches should be translated in to Tamil. He emphasised the fact that the Tamil language is also an official language in the country, and hence, it is of paramount importance, that all citizens should understood each others language.

He said that those who attend these meetings should adhere to the dress code and they should attend them properly attired maintaining the dignity and decorum of the meetings.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, all heads of departments, and officials of the local bodies, discussed all development works in Wlapone, Hanguranketa, Kotmale and Nuwara Eliya-Maskeliya areas. At the outset, the District Secretary D.G.P. Kumarasiri explained some of the points relating to the entire district which were underway.

He also said that some of the heads of departments in some areas have not submitted the works completed or still to be done. Hence, he had requested them to do so at an early date to keep the development meeting informed.

The chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake emphasised the need of the heads of departments to be present at this important meetings, rather than sending representatives.

The Deputy Minister of Economic Development and N.P. For Nuwara Eliya Muthu Sivalingam, charged that carpeting of roads and developments of highways undertaken in other areas, while there was a shortfall in the plantation sector and he requested that such situations should be rectified.

The Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said that there was no such discrimination and he assured that he would take measures to rectify them. However, Ekanayake said that the officers concerned should first inform the coordinating committee, to enable them to pull up the heads of departments concerned to rectify such shortcomings.

The Chief Minister also added that he was responsible for all development works in the district, and as such he should be adequately notified of any shortcomings and requirements in advance for him to take measures to remedy them.