News
Prelate tells minister govt. should give priority to solving people’s problems
By Ifham Nizam
Mahanayake of Malwatte Chapter, the Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sumangala Thera has instructed Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to pay close attention to the problems the people are facing and provide proper solutions.
There were many issues that affected the people of the country at present, but the government did not appear to be implementing a proper programme to address them, the Chief incumbent told Minister Amaraweera.
The Minister visited the Malwathu Viharaya on Sunday to pay a courtesy call on the Mahanayake Thera. During the discussion with the prelate, the Minister mentioned a proposed programme to be implemented in the near future to conserve the environment in the Kandy District.
Minister Amaraweera also briefed the prelate on major environmental damage caused by the pollution of the Mahaweli Ganga in the suburbs of Kandy and steps being taken to tackle the problem.
A comprehensive programme would be launched in the near future to prevent polluting of the Mahaweli River in the suburbs of Kandy, he said.
The Mahanayake Thera also spoke of the gas, electricity and fuel crises as well as the problems faced by the farming community caused by the non-availability of required fertilisers.
“The government should pay more attention to the issues affecting the public,” the Mahanayake thera said.
The Minister also apprised the prelate of the current economic crisis facing the government. “To overcome the current economic crisis, we must enhance national productivity and tap our full economic potential,” he said.
The people had made tremendous sacrifices and it was up to the politicians to reciprocate, the minister said.
“I will not receive my MP’s salary until the end of Covid-19 epidemic. It is sent to the Covid Fund. If more sacrifices are needed I am ready for it. Not only the ruling party politicians but also the members of Parliament as well as officials need to make sacrifices for that,” the Minister said.
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution forwarded by the Minister Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint R. A. Chandana Saman Ranaweera Arachchi a special grade officer of Sri Lanka Administrative Service (SLAS) as the Commissioner
General of Lands.
Approval was granted at the cabinet meeting held on 05-08-2024 to resettle the unauthorized residents in the railway reserve from the Maligawatte Loco junction to Padukka railway station under the Colombo Suburban Railway Project.
Accordingly, resettlements in 694 housing units which were purchased from housing complexes owned by the Urban Development Authority have already been completed and further, 144 housing units are due
to be received from the Urban development Authority. In addition, a housing complex consisting of 120 housing units is being constructed on land in Kottawa, Malapalla area which is owned by the Railway Department for the resettlement of unauthorized residents in Maharagama, Homagama, Padukka area where there are no housing
schemes of the Urban Development Authority, and the constructions of that housing scheme is being completed at present.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port, and Civil Aviation to transfer the land located in Kottawa, Marapalla, belonging to the Sri Lanka Railway Department, and the housing complex within the said land to the National Housing Development Authority as a free grant in terms of the provisions of Section 6(1) of the Government Land Ordinance and to implement the said program of providing the relevant deeds to the selected beneficiaries in such a way as not to burden them financially.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Dr. Mrs. E. R. S. P. Edirimanne serving as a special grade officer in Sri Lanka Agriculture Service in the post of Additional Secretary (Agri Technology) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation as the Commissioner General of Agriculture,
R A Chandana Saman Ranaweera Arachchi appointed as Commissioner General of Lands
Resettlement of unauthorized residents in Kelaniveli Railway Reserves
Dr. Mrs. E. R. S. P. Edirimanne appointed Commissioner General of Agriculture
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