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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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'Will to do my job as long as PM wants me' - Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena by Don Asoka Wijewardena Despite hostile criticisms and comments from both Opposition and colleagues of the UNF, I will continue to do my job with a sense of responsibility and dedication so long as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requires my services. I have no political and business interests in the North and East and I am fully aware of the ulterior motives of my opponents. I have been trying to facilitate reconciliation across ethnic lines without any wish for personal rewards because I am convinced that serving people alike is a worthy cause, Minister of Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, said in an interview with the Sunday Observer. Minister Jayawardena said that the Minister of Hindu Affairs, T. Maseshwaram, had commented in parliament that no relief operations to some parts of the Jaffna peninsula had been implemented and had accused him of misappropriating State funds allocated for rehabilitation and resettlement activities in the North and East. The minister pointed out that within a short period of 11 months nobody could perform miracles for every war-stricken person, but he had been able to provide relief measures,specially Rs. 896 million worth of dry rations to the internally displaced persons, and facilitated the opening of the A 9 road, paving the way for civilian and government transport to and from the North, facilitated the removal of an economic embargo to the Vanni resulting in the availability of essential items of food, fuel and medicine freely, and facilitated the relaxation of restrictions imposed on fishing in the North enabling the revival of the fishing industry. Dr. Jayawardena also said that he was sorry to say that some newspapers (not the Lake House Group) had baselessly castigated the affairs of his ministry, discrediting him. He said that he had requested an official inquiry to be held over the allegation. "All the activities in my ministry are always transparent and I am confident that I will be able to vindicate my ministry over obnoxious allegations made by political opponents", he said. When asked about Christmas celebrations and anticipated development programs in the North and East, Dr. Jayawardena said that as devastated churches were being restored, it would not be possible to visit some of the churches but arrangements were being made to illuminate undamaged churches. (DAW) |
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