Sept 27, Colombo: Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena instructed the provincial governors to take steps to fill vacancies in the province while giving teaching appointments.

Addressing a meeting with Provincial Governors on Tuesday at Temple Trees, the Premier said placement of the government teaching appointments should be taken place in order to fill vacancies in the respective provinces.

Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister also noted that drug usage and drug trafficking have increased and instructed the officials to pay attention in this regard at the provincial level together with the police. He stressed that a voluntary program is required to prevent drug trafficking to control this situation.

The Prime Minister further said;

“It is necessary to implement the program in order to improve the economic, political and administrative situation in the country. Attention should be paid to the functioning of local government bodies that do not have public representatives currently.

There are no public representatives in the local government institutions for more than a year. The President has made arrangements to continue the work of the provincial councils by appointing district development committee chairmen and the work of the Divisional Secretary’s Divisions by appointing development committees in the divisional secretariats. The President had issued a circular instructing that the governors should work together with the district secretaries. As representatives of the President, Governors enjoy special executive powers. Government officials and governors should pay considerable attention to all aspects of development and governance.

More attention should be paid on placing multitasking employees. It should get the support of the provincial councils. This cannot be done by government departments alone. In some districts only a small number of placements have to be completed. These people don’t have O/L qualification. N.V.Q special training has been provided by the government. Take steps to place them in a proper institution that have been recognized for training.

There are certain issues regarding teaching appointments. Steps should be taken to give appointments in each province. This will make the teaching appointment program successful. Those teachers who were sent to provinces or districts out of their residence might not remain in those schools. There is a surplus in some regions. Our sole aim is to educate the students and not to grant concessionary transfers. Placement of the government teaching appointments should be taken place in order to fill vacancies in the respective provinces.

The Ministry of Local Government has recognized that it is possible to increase the income of all local government bodies. This should be given special attention. Court fines, stamp revenue, other transfer and financial provisions are less directed to local authorities. The development committees should pay attention to this and try to reduce the expenses. Former President and the current President had a policy of increasing solar energy. But the progress is very slow. Priority should be given to provincial councils and district committees to implement projects. Digitization of local government agencies leads to increase revenue. The concerned commissioners have been advised in this regard. At the same time continuous supervision is very important.

Some illegal methods of revenue should be looked into. Drug usage and drug trafficking has increased. Pay attention in this regard at the provincial level together with the police. If prompt steps are not taken it is uncertain where the killings due to internecine war between underworld gangs might end. This situation must be controlled. During the war, Public Security Committees were formed. The police were in alert. Such a voluntary program is needed again. Instructions should be given to control this situation through these steps. Children, teachers and young people should possess understanding in this regard and carry forward this drug prevention movement. Discussions should be held with security forces, inter-community organizations, and religious leaders to control this situation immediately.

Not every child who leaves school can be admitted to university. They should be directed to vocational education. More attention should be paid, especially in directing them to information technology. Unless attention is paid in this regard at district level, these children tend to join various gangs. Direct the young children to a program targeting their future.

There are thousands of acres of government or government-related unutilized estate lands owned by the Land Reforms Commission which are not being used for a productive purpose. The government decided to allow the youth to cultivate these lands for a short period of time. The program needs to be carried forward.” State Ministers Janaka Wakkumbura, Ashoka Priyantha, Governors Maheepala Herath, Willy Gamage, Lalith U. Gamage, A. J. Muzammil, Roshan Gunathilake, P. M. S. Charles, Senthil Thondaman, Naveen Dissanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government Ranjith Ashoka and all Provincial Chief Secretaries participated in this discussion.