Identify people’s needs accurately, President tells Local Govt Heads

All heads of Local Government institutions should dedicate themselves to serve the people in their areas by identifying their needs properly, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said. He said so when he met Local Government institution Heads at Temple Trees on Tuesday.

The meeting was held to ascertain the views and suggestions of Heads of Local Government institutions regarding the preparation of the 2013 Budget. President Rajapaksa who emphasised the need to give priority to the needs of the people in the respective areas in the preparation of development plans, also stressed the importance of collective work on the part of officials in doing it.

A press release issued by the President’s Media Division said attention was also drawn at the meeting towards the shortage of staff faced by Local Government institutions.

The President said funds will be allocated in the 2013 Budget to solve this problem.

It was also emphasised that an adequate number of vehicles would be provided before the end of December to enable local government institutions overcome the major problem of transporting garbage.

Several heads of local government institutions pointed out the problem they encountered in finding adequate space for garbage disposal and the President directed officials to identify suitable land and provide them to the local government institutions.

It was pointed out that local government institutions were facing financial problems due to Provincial Councils holding back taxes due to them. President Rajapaksa directed Finance Ministry officials to prepare a proper strategy to ensure that these payments are made to the local institutions.

Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundera said the ministry hoped to prepare a budget framework for 2013 to 2015 and the 2013 budget was being prepared as the first step towards this objective.

He said the ministry hoped to simplify the complex tax structure and take steps to provide taxes due to local institutions without delay .

The release added that heads of local government institutions submitted a large number of ideas and views at the meeting.

Minister A M Athaulla, Basil Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Susil Premajayantha and Dullas Alahapperuma were also present.

 

Courtesy: Daily News