President directs officials to withdraw lawsuits based on old circulars as new laws are now in place

Monday, 1 February 2021 02:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

17,000 deeds signed by 29 Jan. after clearing disputes identified at ‘Discussion with the Village’ program
Says people’s representatives, State officials and public should cooperate in addressing rural issues

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the officials to withdraw cases filed under old circulars with the implementation of new rules that allow farmers to continue cultivation on lands traditionally used for agriculture.

President Rajapaksa has instructed all the departments and institutions, including wildlife, forestry, environment and land, to take into consideration requests frequently made by the public during the ‘Discussion with the Village’ sessions when formulating new laws in the interest of the people.

Existing issues with the laws will be resolved and new laws will be implemented. This decision was taken to relieve the public of their sufferings caused as a result of litigation against State institutions.

President stated that he has already signed 17,000 deeds after clearing disputes by 29 January. President Rajapaksa made these directives and remarks during the eighth Discussion with the Village program on the bank of the Kukulkatuwa tank in Thanamalwila Aluthwewa Grama Niladhari Division, Monaragala on Saturday.

The ‘Discussion with the Village’ program was launched on 25 September 2020 in the Badulla District. Thereafter programs were organised covering Matale, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kalutara districts. The President aims to meet the people of the remote villages away from cities and towns who have not been given due attention for a long time, and to inquire into their suffering and to bring them to the attention of the respective officials providing solutions to them instantaneously.

Issues that need more time to resolve will be noted down to be addressed in the future. The objective of the program is to reach out to the villagers, analyse their issues and find solutions through their own suggestions and proposals.

Uva Provincial Governor A.J.M. Muzammil, State Ministers Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Vijitha Berugoda, MPs Jagath Pushpakumara, Kumarasiri Rathnayake, Dayashan Navanandana, former MP Sumedha G. Jayasena, Principal Adviser to the President Lalith Weeratunga and a number of people’s representatives, Secretaries to Ministries, Heads of Government Institutions and the Security Forces participated in the ‘Discussion with the Village’ program held on the bank of the Kukulkatuwa tank.