Provincial Elections will be held soon: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that the Provincial Council elections will be held soon to strengthen the democracy of the country.

The President said this addressing the Vap Magul Day event held at the Sandagirigama Welyaya in Thissamaharamaya yesterday.

President Sirisena further said that officers of 6 provincial councils are in a helpless state, due to lack of a precise political leadership or guidance. The officers can accomplish duties for a certain extent with the circulars, but there must be a people-oriented political leadership that offers better services, he pointed out.

Hence, discussions will be held as soon as possible, by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, with the Elections Commission about holding Provincial Council Elections, said the President.

President Sirisena said that immediate solutions will be provided to the problems of the people of Northern and Eastern Provinces.

President Sirisena said that the people who had held these responsibilities failed to respond to the issues of the people of the North within the last three and a half years, and further stated that the proposed housing projects for the people of the North was only limited to mere Cabinet discussions.

President Sirisena invited all politicians, Government officers, as well as the Maha Sangha and priests of other religions, and all citizens to join hands with the new Government with a strong sense of friendship, brotherhood, and peace, to reduce the burden on the people in their struggle for living, achieve economic prosperity of the country, strengthen a well-disciplined governance, and to move forward aligned with the local culture.

President Sirisena further said that, even though there is a need for technology and the most updated knowledge of the world, Sri Lanka, as a nation which hails its local heredity, there should be an agriculture-based economic development program, which aligns with the local food style and culture. President Sirisena also symbolically distributed paddy seed and fruit plants to the farmer community.

 The Maha Sangha, priests of other religions, former Speaker Chamal Rajapakshe, Mahinda Amaraweera, Shan Wijayalal Da Silva, Angajan Ramanathan, Cader Mastan and other public representatives, and a large number of famers were present in this event. Meanwhile, the Kidney Unit of the Base Hospital of Tissamaharama, Debarawewa was also opened by the President. The new dialysing unit and the laboratory were also observed by the President. The Chief Medical Officer of the base hospital, Dr. Prabath Jayadewa and others were present at this event.