PM tells CMC to put Colombo first

Wednesday, 21 March 2018 02:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Swears in first female mayor of Colombo Rosy Senanayake
Tells new councillors to go door-to-door to understand people’s issues as they did during campaigning
Insists he does not want to see politicians coming by bicycle and leaving by Benz
Says central govt. ready to release funds for Colombo development

Hailing the appointment of Colombo’s first female mayor, Rosy Senanayake, as a historic achievement, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday called on new appointees to the Colombo Municipal Council to work for the development of Colombo and encouraged them to go door to door to solve the issues of their constituents.

Addressing the municipal officials after they were sworn in on Monday, Wickremesinghe thanked all the party supporters for retaining the United National Party’s (UNP) unassailable position within Colombo. However, he also reminded them that the time had come to fulfil the pledges made during the campaign.

“I congratulate everyone here including Mayor Senanayake. My goal is to see you developing Colombo. We must consider it our duty. During the previous election we introduced a 10-year plan and we have already begun implementing it but during that time we must also work to solve the problems of the people living in Colombo. Even though Colombo is the capital, most of the people living here are poor or middle class and we must work to provide them with better infrastructure,” he said.

Wickremesinghe pointed out that the new officials had been selected through a proportional representation system which allowed them to personally know and interact with each member of their community. This would provide the right foundation for them to closely interact with constituents and resolve their issues, especially since the councillors are also from the same area.

“The people of Colombo have high expectations of us and it is because we were confident that we could meet these expectations that we came forward during these elections. You did not choose to become the sort of politician who comes by bicycle and leaves by Benz but to become a councillor who will genuinely work for the benefit of the people. We must work for the people.”

He also emphasised the intentions of the central government to release funds needed for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and noted they were aware of the problems being faced by Colombo’s residents. The Prime Minister appealed to the new councillors to provide a better standard of life to these people and work for their development.