Sri Lanka : Institutional, personal policies need to be changed to move country forward

Jan 15, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena says that the unity government is moving forward strongly to build the country and changes in institutional and personal policies are needed to move the country forward.

President Sirisena said the private sector as well as the state sector should undergo changes in policies when working towards development.

The President emphasized that the country's future, socially and economically, is not only the responsibility of the government but also of the people, state and nongovernmental organizations in moving forward as a country. The nongovernmental organizations and public also have a duty to move forward together as a country and all individuals should be devoted to fulfilling their role in the government's journey towards development, he added.

He said when implementing plans and policies to develop the country it should not only be considered the policy of the state or state institutions but all organizations and individuals.

The President made these remarks at the conclusion ceremony of Nilamehewara President's public mobile service in Galle District on Saturday.

The Nilamehewara service which has been organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs, was held with the support of Minister Vajira Abeywardena. It has been held at 19 divisional secretariat areas of the Galle District for three months and has provided solutions to many problems of the public.

The service is implemented under the directions of the President on the concept of providing all government services at the village itself. Out of the 146,956 problems presented by the people during the service, 136,781solutions were provided.

The services provided to the people without a charge included providing birth, marriage and death certificates and national identity cards, free medical and eye clinics Services, granting Samurdhi and Elderly allowances, pension benefits and resolve issues related to the other allowances provided by the government, land rights issues, licensing issues solving farmers' issues and providing solutions for the problems of the self-employed in the district.

The first phase of Nilamehewara program took place in Polonnaruwa and the second phase in Galle District.

Speaking further at the occasion, President Sirisena rejected the media reports which wrongly claimed that the European Union granted the GSP+ tariff concession to Sri Lanka with the promise of establishing a federal system in the country.

He said some elements are attempting to discredit the reputation and the honor of the government by giving a wrong picture about the EU's decision to grant GSP plus to the country and requested those media outlets not to abuse the media freedom and try to fulfill their duties to provide correct and true information to the people in the country.

The President said the main objective of the government is to take forward the country by establishing national reconciliation and thereby build an internationally accepted just and fair society. The President everyone to move forward and build a better country.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Home Affairs Minister Vajira Abeywardena also expressed their views at the occasion.