Minister Ashraff served all communities

Mohammed Naalir

Former Minister and Presidential Advisor Lakshman Jayakody commended the yeoman service rendered by the late Minister M.H.M. Ashraff to develop the Deegawapi area and the Vihara which was abandoned until recently.

He said the late Minister converted the Deegawapi area into a residential area shifting development to the area and developing it as a Buddhist sacred place.

The former Minister was addressing a gathering after opening the Mirigama Lakjayagama Housing Scheme by Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff.

He said the Buddhist community should not forget the unbiased service of the late minister and should pay their gratitude to him.

Fifty housing units were constructed by the National Housing Development Authority in this scheme.

Jayakody also commended the late Minister for developing telecommunication, transport and vocational training facilities for residents of the area.

"The late minister also provided vehicles to Buddhist Monks in the Viharaya," he said.

Jayakody also said the Minister had made arrangements to establish a faculty for Buddhist Studies at the South Eastern University.

He served all irrespective of race, cast and religious differences, he said.

Ashraff later formed the National Unity Alliance to forge unity among diverse ethnic groups and to ensure good governance with the participation of all three communities, he added.

Minister Ferial Ashraff was later appointed a Minister after the demise of Ashraff, he said.

Housing and Common Amenities Minister Ferial Ashraff, Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya, Religious Affairs Minister Pandu Bandaranayake, National Housing Development Authority Chairman Mohammed Rafeek and Mirigama Sri Lanka Freedom Party organiser Kokila Gunawardane participated.