Local Government (LG) bodies bear a huge responsibility in fulfilling the peoples’ expectations, said Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Namal Rajapaksa.
He also added that the citizens have high expectations regarding the Local Government bodies and they are duty bound to fulfil the aspirations of the people.
Minister Rajapaksa was speaking at a meeting of the Anuradhapura District Local Government Representatives held on March 30 to inquire into development projects taking place at village level.
He also said that Local Government representatives are based in the villages and it is their responsibility to protect that foundation that is being formed in the village.
“Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader who strengthened the Local Government institutions. He initiated the rural road development programme through the “Maga Neguma” project and strengthened the Pradeshiya Sabhas to carry out development activities that could not be accomplished through “Maga Neguma,” the Minister said. Minister Rajapaksa said that the road carpeting project is being implemented as a national project and Municipal Councils as well as Provincial Councils develop the road network by carpeting them.
He also added that the Government strengthened Local Government representatives who played a major role in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Presidential Election win.
“A large number of young people in villages have rallied through the youth clubs that have been set up in recent days to help create employment opportunities, build economic opportunities in the villages, create self-employment opportunities and create entrepreneurs. These were done with the intervention of Local Government bodies,” he said.
Furthermore, he said that none of the Governments in the history of Sri Lanka has provided 160,000 jobs within a year of coming to power and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will also provide employment to 60,000 graduates and another 100,000 jobs. He also highlighted that for the first time in history, a programme was set up to enroll children who failed the G.C.E Ordinary Level examination in the public service.
“Programmes have been initiated with a forward plan for all development activities such as strengthening the rural economy and improving sports. For the first time in history, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is implementing a programme to allocate funds for the preparation of playgrounds in rural schools. We developed a system not only at the village level but also to identify the players and take them to the national and international level. Currently this programme is implemented islandwide,” the Minister added.
The Minister said that during the process, various complications may arise at the constituency level, at the divisional level, in the Pradeshiya Sabhas, Municipal Councils or Development Committees.
“We have to manage them through proper coordination, correct the shortcomings and move forward with the state machinery,” he said. He highlighted that the Government must ensure the rights of the people who voted and fulfill their needs and shortcomings in the Local Government bodies must be minimized.
