Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has praised Transport, Highways and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake and his ministry, saying its work is increasingly being felt by the public and has become a subject of positive discussion.
Speaking at the launch of the government’s “Life Cities” programme, the Prime Minister said she was proud of the work being carried out by the ministry.
“I am really proud, Bimal. I think I said this yesterday as well when we opened the Bambalapitiya Railway Station. These days, this is one of the ministries that is being discussed the most, both in the media and among the public — and importantly, in a positive way,” the Prime Minister said.
“The change we expected is beginning to be felt by the people, and the work of your ministry has now become a topic of discussion among the public. This ministry is dealing with several of the major problems faced by our people, and it is very clear that you are thinking differently and proposing new solutions to those problems,” she added.
The Prime Minister thanked Minister Rathnayake, the deputy minister and ministry officials for their work.
Amarasuriya said the Life Cities initiative represented a different approach to urban development, aimed at creating cities that are functional, liveable and centred on the needs of their residents.
She was also critical of previous urban “beautification” programmes, claiming they had excluded sections of urban communities and created the impression that cities belonged only to certain groups.
The Prime Minister said cities should belong to everyone who lives in them, with development taking into account accessibility, transport, environmental sustainability, public services, safety and quality of life.
She also praised the selection of cities under the Life Cities programme, saying the inclusion of Jaffna, Vavuniya and Batticaloa showed that decisions were being made based on data and the needs of residents rather than political considerations. (Newswire)
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