International Donor Conference to support Development activities in the Northern, Eastern Provinces

Addressing a public rally organised by the Samagi Jana Sanandha (SJS) held on Tuesday (3) in Vavuniya, Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) and SJS Presidential Candidate Sajith Premadasa said that an international donor conference will be held to garner support for the development activities in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, following his victory at the forthcoming Presidential Election.

“No ruler was able to hold an international donor conference for the benefit of the war-torn people of the North and East. Some rulers did not allow the people to participate in rallies because of racism”, he said.

He added that a SJB government will generate more jobs to the unemployed youth by establishing factories. “Moves are taken to provide the necessary financial strength to create 1 million new entrepreneurs across the country and provide the necessary knowledge and training to new entrepreneurs”, he said.

He added that the entire public service will receive at least a 24% increase in salary and the cost of living allowance will be increased from Rs 17,800 to Rs. 25,000. Accordingly, the minimum salary in the public service will be Rs. 57,500, he said. The unfair tax formula of the current government will be changed.

He noted that a novel programme aimed at eradicating poverty in the country will be introduced under his government, with the inclusion of positive aspects of Janasaviya, Samurdhiya and Asvasuma programmes, while removing the shortcomings.

A new programme is being launched to eradicate poverty by focusing on consumption, investment, saving, production and export. Accordingly, a National programme is being implemented to get rid of poverty within two years, by providing financial assistance of Rs. 20,000 per month to every poor family. Also, a special programme is being implemented to strengthen the livelihood of female-headed family units. Measures will be taken to give assistance to the people who are indebted to microfinance companies, to get out of financial predicament, Premadasa said.

The public service of our country gives priority to the implementation of the country’s government policies. The current government tried to cut the salaries of the public service. He also said that the current government had prepared plans to reduce the total number of government employees on the advice of International Monetary Fund.

“In the event that the current government has issued false statements that the salaries will be increased, the basic salary of the entire public service will be increased by at least 24%. The cost of living allowance will be increased to Rs. 25,000. The minimum salary of all government employees will be made Rs. 57,500. We are working to provide solutions to the problems of the entire public service,” he said.

Also, instead of the current tax formula that operates from 6% to 36%, he said that SJS is implementing a programme that will protect the public service and the middle class by creating a tax formula that will give concessions to public servants and the middle class by operating the tax rate from 1% to 24%.

He said that the SJS believes that the entire public service is not a burden to the country but an asset to the country. The current government called public service a burden to the country. Also, other alternative groups have put forward proposals to protect the public service. But the SJS government moves are under way to implement new training programmes for the public service aiming to increase their skills, equip them with technical knowledge, etc. Only the SJS raised a voice for the friendly public service required for a friendly country.

Also, the current government has given an additional allowance of three months to the Police officers.

“We are working to continue providing that allowance under the government of SJS. Efforts are being made to provide solutions to the issue of promotion of Police officers. By implementing a respectable Police service in the country, we are creating the necessary environment for the country’s security personnel to carry out their work with pride,” he noted.

SJS is definitely committed to making the public service equipped with new technology and proper training of all officers, he further added.

“We started a number of huge housing projects in the North-East. But the former President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa stopped those housing projects without any reason.

After the victory of SJS on September 21, funds are allocated to complete the housing projects started in the Northern Province and Eastern Province, as well as other Provinces of the country. Also the SJS government will soon start a programme to provide shelters for the people of the country who are landless and homeless.

Also, school development starts from pre-school. All the schools in Vavuniya District are working to be converted into Smart schools. By providing lunch to the schoolchildren, we are working to create a strong generation of children, strengthen the children with knowledge and increase the provision for education.

Speaking on agriculture development he said that a new irrigation civilisation is being started in areas without irrigation projects. Farmers are working to create a friendly farming generation with new technical knowledge.

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