PM says Bathiudeen played major role in forming good governance govt.

Wednesday, 7 February 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Prime Minister acknowledged the important role played by Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen in forming the good governance government.

“People living in these areas should get their native land back. They raised an issue of the historical Wilpattu Forest reserve being destroyed by these homeless people,” said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe while addressing an election campaign meeting in support of candidates from the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) contesting elections to local government bodies under the UNF.

Wickremesinghe was addressing a meeting held in Silavathurai on 5 February where he acknowledged the important role played by Minister Bathiudeen in forming the good governance government.

“Rishad strives hard to develop and build Musali area. After you all were evicted by the LTTE, your native lands in Musali and Silavathurai were abandoned and it became a forest. Your fertile farmland became a forest. Land in villages became the property of the forest department. People living in these areas should get their native land back,” said Premier Wickremesinghe.

“They raised an issue over the historical Wilpattu Forest reserve being destroyed by these homeless people. Hence, Minister Rishad attempted to find a permanent solution to this problem by filing a case. The court will give a verdict. After that your farmland and other land will be returned to you to carry out your normal farming activities freely and happily. The Government will take steps to resettle people chased out of Silavathurai then. Silavathurai city will be rebuilt, for which additional land is required. We will hold discussions with the Navy stationed there. Rishad is taking steps to upgrade and develop Silavathurai Hospital and to establish an industrial zone in Kondachchi. We will take steps to promote tourism, upgrade the fishing standard and establish a technical college in Mannar. The Government has decided to hold the national Milad Unnabi celebrations of the year in Musali,” stated Wickremesinghe.