Development should benefit public not a family: Patali

The government focuses on development projects that would have a positive impact on the public and not on those that would benefit a family, as during the previous regime, said Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, yesterday.

He added that a project to construct a monument in memory of a politician's father with Rs. 90 million out of public funds has no benefit to the public.

He made these observations at the ceremonial opening of the Gampaha Bus Stand-2 by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The bus stand was constructed by the Urban Development Authority utilizing the funds of Sukitha Purawara Town Development Programme of the Megapolis and Western Development Ministry under the direction of President Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister Ranawaka said the construction of a defence headquarter complex commenced in Battaramulla at a cost of Rs. 62,000 million and it is only second to the Pentagon.

"It commenced by selling a land at Galle Face for Rs, 8,000 million," the Minister added. "However, we have had to bear the burden. Point five percent of the project had been remitted to an account of the architect who designed it. With that money, offices in Oruwela were constructed."

Minister Ranawaka said the glass for the fish tank at the Arcade constructed during the previous regime is Rs. 65 million. "The projects should be carried out with the least money and at a high standard," the Minister added.

He also said the projects should be implemented with the support of the people and not forcefully. "The lands should not be acquired forcefully," Minister Ranawaka said. "On the other hand, illegal constructions should be removed with the assistance of the people. During these two years, over 6,000 slums in Colombo have been removed and 400 houses are being removed today at Vauxhall Street in Colombo. But no person has staged a protest because they were not done forcefully by the military."

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and UNP Gampaha District MP Ajith Mannapperuma also spoke.