Greater strides for village development – President

The Government will take greater strides towards developing the villages from this 17th onwards with new strength from stronger Pradeshiya Sabhas, amidst the blessings of the people, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the final district conference on Monday in Kirama, Hambantota.

We always believed that developing the village will develop the nation, the President said adding, ‘our plan is to strengthen the individual, protect the family, strengthen the village and develop the country’.

President Rajapaksa invited the people to support the government’s development programmes in rebuilding a nation that is now peaceful, not forgetting the memories of LTTE atrocities and terror that prevailed in the past.

He further stated that the objective of this election was to expedite the Government’s development programmes and invited all to join with the Government to realise the needs of the motherland at this juncture, rejecting narrow political gains.

The President inaugurated a market complex in Kirima, Hambantota completed at a cost of Rs.11 million, after this final district conference.

At the conference in Ambalantota, Kirama Kale on Monday (14), the President said that he believes that everyone, who loves the motherland and hopes for the development of villages, will fulfil their obligation at this election.

“Let us all unite to rebuild this country for our future generations,” he said.

Under the auspices of President Rajapaksa, the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) organised 21 District Conferences for the 2011 Local Government Elections under the theme “Sapiri Gamak-Supiri Ratak” (an abundant village to a self-sufficient nation).

Ranil says cost of living issue is worse than the war



Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe says that the burdens of the rising cost of living are worse than the war that prevailed in the country.

Speaking at a public rally, Wickremesinghe said the government was trying to bury the people alive with a sky rocketing cost of living.

He said that every citizen in the country has been affected by the cost of living and no one has been spared.

He added that the people were now finding it difficult to survive with a price of coconut increasing up to Rs. 60, bread up to Rs. 50 and sprats up to Rs. 350.

According to Wickremesinghe, people in some areas were no longer in a position to buy milk powder packets and have resorted to buy them by spoonfulls.

He charged that the government has been unable to successfully address the rising cost of living.