“Health Service employees at Corona Treatment Centres and the Colombo Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) provide their services without contracting COVID. They show that all the others also could protect themselves from the virus,” Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said.
The Minister was addressing the gathering after opening the four storey Kalutara Pradesheeya Sabha (PS) Administrative Office, which was built at a cost of Rs. 50 million under the Pura Neguma Project in Waskaduwa, Kalutara on January 7.
The Minister said that if State offices were kept closed, the country would not move forward.
“We cannot keep the country closed. The Local Government Institutions are rendering a massive service for the citizens. The Kalutara PS, too, is doing a great public service. Rehabilitated roads, State buildings, schools, hospitals and many other modern development schemes in the district show its laudable service,” the Minister said.
The Millaniya PS has proposed to divide the main road from the Nagas Junction to the Horana-Yale Junction into four lanes and ease the traffic congestion.
“Former Kalutara District United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarian Lakshman Wijemanne had been invited to attend this meeting, because the Government’s principle is rallying round all including the Opposition for the development. The Government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa never harms opponents because of their politics,” the Minister said.
The Minister advised PS Councillors to collaborate with everyone irrespective of their politics and work together for the development of the country.
He said that the Government will settle all foreign loans on time and develop the country. “Tourism will be a main avenue of income again before long,” he said.
The Minister said that the Kalutara PS has 46 Councillors and they must serve the area and uplift the people’s living standards soon.
“We have never discontinued the development programmes. This year is a working year amidst the Corona pandemic,” he said.
Kalutara Urban Council Chairman Nazeer Ameer (UNP), Millaniya and Dodamgoda PS Chairmen, Western Province former Councillor Rohana Abeygunawardena and Beruwala PS Opposition Leader and several others participated.
