Secretary Defence and Urban Development Gotabaya Rajapaksa graced the Annual Symposium organized by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs with the Sri Lanka Administration Service – 2000 batch on 26th July. The Symposium titled Sri Lanka’s forward march in post conflict development: Challenges for the public service, was held at the Sri Lanka Institute of Development and Administration in Colombo.
Secretary to the President Lalith Weerathunga and Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning Dr. PB Jayasundara also participated in the event.
Expressing his views at the event the Secretary Defence said that the government has steps to upgrade the living standards of the people and with the end of the Humanitarian Operations the development drive has been expedited to cover the north and east as well. He cited the Colombo development project as an example for sustainable development. The former army headquarters premises had been cleared within a period of two weeks for the Hotel project and the once abandoned Old Dutch hospital is now a modern shopping arcade, the old race course and the surrounding areas have been modernized he said. The walking paths in Battamulla and Torrington have become popular places where people from all walks of life come to work out and have some fresh air and relax, he further said.
Secretary Defence noted that upon his request the Colombo Municipal Council has taken measures to ensure the cleanliness of the city and also maintain the pavements. He said that the government’s aim is to have modern, environment friendly green cities. .
A large number of Ministry Secretaries, District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries and officials of various departments, Statutory Bodies and other government institutions attended the Symposium.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
