Senior Ministers have major role –Athauda

Senior Minister of Rural Affairs Athauda Seneviratne yesterday said that Senior Ministers have been tasked to coordinate and monitor the Government’s massive development drive at the highest level.

Contrary to various criticism made by Opposition members over the role of Senior Ministers, Rural Affairs Senior Minister said that they will have to play more comprehensive role to put the country on the right track of development.

The Minister made these observations after an inspection of the new office complex for Senior Ministers in Colombo 3. Senior Minister for Food and Nutrition P. Dayaratne was also present. Their offices will function from the end of this week.

“We have already participated in three high level meetings comprising the Ministers and the officials of more than 15 Ministries to discuss the establishment one million domestic economic units in the country,” he added.

The Minister said the Senior Ministers would closely monitor this programme which will lead to the eradication of poverty in the country.

Scoffing at the Opposition’s allegations that the Senior Ministers have been sidelined by the Government, Minister Seneviratne said the Senior Ministerial portfolios were created by the President with the view to obtaining their vast experience for the development of the country.

He said the Government has already planned the one million domestic economic units in the country and that this would be implemented soon.

Meanwhile, Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau Chairman, Engineer N. Rupasinghe yesterday told the media that renovation of the three storied office complex to house senior Ministers office has been completed.

This office complex located at the Calvery Lane in Colombo 3 consists of all modern facilities such as wifi, an auditorium with a sound system and a car park. Rupasinghe said the Government has spent more than Rs. 95 million for the renovation of this building which was occupied by the Public Services Commission earlier.

He said the renovation activities include ceiling, fixing of firefighting units, Air conditioners and laying of carpets to the offices of the Senior Ministers. Rupasinghe said the Bureau succeeded in renovating the entire building within 20 days.

“We imported many items such as carpets for the offices of Senior Ministers within a few days and completed the renovation activities within a very short time,” Rupasinghe said.

He said facilities had been provided to accommodate the Coordinating Secretaries and Private Secretaries of the Senior Ministers within their office in addition to the floor allocated to the offices of their Secretaries.