“Devolved power ensures efficient governance”- President Kumaratunga 
[January 27, 2004 - 10.30 GMT]

President Kumaratunga said yesterday decentralization or effective devolution of power to the periphery would be a solution to the country’s ethnic problem and it would also ensure better governance. She welcomed the fact that the two major political forces the UNP and the SLFP are committed to devolution of power.

President Kumaratunga was speaking at the inauguration of a newly built Head Office of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council in Ratnapura.

Making a reference to the upcoming Provincial Council elections the President urged the people to elect young educated people to office. She lamented that Sri Lankan politics has deteriorated as never before.

The President told the people of Ratnapura aka the gem capital of the country “if we adopt the highest technological advances in the gem industry we could earn as much as some countries earn with their crude oil”.

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council was earlier housed in the District Secretariat building in Ratnapura. Another Rs. 70 million will be spent to complete the third phase of the building.

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Last Updated Date: January 27, 2004  -10.30 GMT.