PUT ASIDE DIFFERENCES TO DEVELOP COUNTRY: PRESIDENT TELLS POLITICOS

Natural disasters have been triggered by the politicisation of the government’s development plans by politicians vying for preferential votes, but they blame the government when such disasters take place, President Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday.

He said this at a District Coordinating Committee meeting held at the Galle District Secretariat when discussing rescue and relief operations in the affected areas.

“The flood-control project in the Southern Province was planned some 50 years ago but it remains on the drawing board without being implemented. The same politicians who opposed the project now cry foul when a natural disaster takes place. I appeal to all of you to cast aside your political affiliations and find a lasting solution to prevent or mitigate such disasters in the future,” the President said.

He said the flood control

I appeal to all of you to cast aside your political affiliations and find a lasting solution to prevent or mitigate such disasters in the future

project report had been prepared in 1969 by local and foreign engineers after a thorough study on the rainfall pattern and water resources, but unfortunately none of the successive governments had been able to implement it.

“When a development project is launched, people have to be evicted and lands taken over. The government has always relocated them on better lands and in better houses. But politicians who fear losing their vote base strongly oppose these development efforts. People should understand that this negative attitude hinders development. The global community is prepared to support Sri Lanka and we must take advantage of goodwill for our benefit. The yahapalana government is in the process of implementing several small, medium and large scale development projects with foreign assistance,” the President said.

Ministers Gayantha Karunatilaka and Vajira Abeywardena also addressed the meeting.