Use public assets sensibly and with responsibility - President

"Politicians should utilise assets for development according to a proper plan designed in consultation with the authorities, without squandering public money by implementing them arbitrarily" President Mahinda Rajapaksa  said speaking at a Kalutara District Special Development Committee meeting at the Eden Grand Hotel in Aluthgama, yesterday (12).

 The progress and the lapses of the development projects implemented in the Kalutara district and the complaints sent by the public were discussed at the meeting.  Attention was also focused on giviing a face lift to the public market in Kalutara, Urban Development in Panadura,  and enhancement of tourism industry in Beruwala area as well. The President said the final benefits of all these projects should pass on to the public and the money and lands should be utilised in a manner that brings maximum benefits to the country.

He said District Development Committee meetings are not political meetings and he had come to the district to solve the issues of the public, so that all government and Opposition politicians, irrespective of their party politics, have to take part. He emphasised on the fact that people have elected members to solve their problems and members have a responsibility to attend such meetings.

He said it was noteworthy the Opposition members get the best benefits at the Consultative Committee meetings in Parliament.

Senior Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Kumara Welgama, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Reginold Coorey, Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala, Parliamentarian Vidura Wickremanayake, Provincials Council, Pradeshiya Sabha members, Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga and government officials attended the meeting.