Northern Province Chief Minister C V Wigneswaran has questioned why he needs to work with the Government, as stated by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, when funds allocated for development of the North come from donor countries and can be directed to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa had said recently that Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran is not cooperating on development work carried out by the Government, and this is affecting the ordinary people in the North.
However, speaking at a function in Jaffna, Wigneswaran said the funds do not belong to the Government and if it is directed to the NPC then the NPC will be able to carry out the development work on its own.
Wigneswaran noted that international donor agencies and foreign countries have given the Government funds to rebuild the North and assist the families affected by the war.
He noted that allocating those funds for the right projects is the responsibility of the NPC and so the Government must keep this is mind.
Speaking at a UN Habitat program last week, Rajapaksa had said that political differences between Municipalities and the Central Government has resulted in some officials, including Mayors, showing reluctance to work with the Government.
Rajapaksa noted that fortunately the Colombo Municipal Council is working with the Urban Development Authority and Ministry of Defence despite the Council being governed by the opposition UNP.
He said the Northern Provincial Council must also work with the Government like the Colombo Municipal Council, in the best interest of the people in the area. (Colombo Gazette)