Gampaha -liquor, drug-free city in future - Basil

The scourge of terrorism has since been eliminated. Today the challenge before the Govt. is to ensure speedy economic recovery; said Gampaha district UPFA Leader and Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapaksa at a meeting held to discuss the ways and means of giving a new facelift to Gampaha district to keep pace with the overall development strategy.

He said plans are afoot to ensure the infrastructure development to sustain the growth momentum. Our aim is to make Gampaha a liquor and drug-free city promoting the moral endowment of the youth generation.

Bringing vast tracts of fallow fields under paddy cultivation, conservation of Muthurajawela natural reserve and set up of housing scheme to ease urban congestion and development of cottage industries such as jewellery, cashew and exploiting fisheries potential are some of the development priorities listed for implementation, he said.

Rajapaksa said, the Gampaha district polled the highest number of votes during the recent presidential election which ensured President Mahinda Rajapaksa's easy victory.

These progressive minded people of Gampaha reposed their implicit faith in the President and as such responsibility has devolved on me to fulfil their aspirations what ever the challenges ahead.

Consensus played a vital role in the Rajapaksa adminstration, helped the President to wipe out Tiger terrorism within a short spell of three years, with the overall support extended by the people in the country, he said.