President Sirisena said that although many people sarcastically disapprove the decision taken by him as the Minister of Environment regarding issuing of new licenses to the carpentry workshops and wood mills, he also said that with the rapid forest-cover loss the human beings including the animals have to face a huge challenge of living within the next 15-20 years.
The President made these remarks addressing the closing ceremony of the Mullaitivu district “Stand together for the country” programme held at the Ground of the Mullaitivu Pradeshiya Sabha,yestwrday (08).President Sirisena further pointed out that it is learned fact that 95 per cent of the forests are being destroyed by the racketeers.
These smugglings are carried out covering to the licenses granted to the wood mills, and the President pointed out those Environmental scientists have shown that due to the excessive extraction of timber has caused huge damage to the environment as well as the water resources.
President Sirisena further said that any politician should not make statements that cause communal violence and religious extremism to secure votes.In accordance with the instructions and guidance of President Sirisena, the Presidential Secretariat commenced the Programme of Rata Wenuwen Ekata Sitimu (Let’s Stand Together for the Country) with the aim of monitoring the implementation of national development projects such as Grama Shakthi National Programme, National Drug Prevention Programme, Protect Children National Programme, National Chronic Kidney Prevention Programme, National Food Production Programme and Environment Protection Programme and special development projects and various programmes implemented by the different Ministries ensure that they are implemented efficiently and productively for the benefit of the public.
The fourth phase of the ‘Rata Wenuwen Ekata Sitimu’ (Let’s Stand Together for the Country) programme commenced in the Mullaitivu district and a series of development projects covering 06 Divisional Secretariats in Mullaitivu District were commenced to uplift the living standard of th e people living there. The Mullaitivu district Office of the Smart Sri Lanka project was opened by President Maithripala Sirisena.
Sri Lankan Career Guidance Network is carried on under the Smart Sri Lanka project conducted by the President’s office. Its objectives include enabling the young people to march forward in a career they choose, entrepreneurial opportunities. The President also vested the reconstructed Kiriibbanwewa reservoir of the Mahaweli with the public.
