The program in this regard will commencenext January in the Polonnaruwa district using divisional secretariats as focal points. Later the program will be expanded across the country, the President said. He made these remarks during a meeting with field officers of the Polonnaruwa district held at the Buddhi Mandapaya in Polonnaruwa, today (14).

President Sirisena further said that the year 2017 has been declared as the year for the elimination of poverty from our country and the government needs the support of all field officers in this regard.

In the process of developing a district, all the divisional areas should be developed in an unbiased and balanced manner, the President said, adding that through this new process there is room to collect accurate information at divisional secretariat level to implement much needed development plans for the public.

The President said he will take action to take Polonnaruwa which has been in a low development level, compared to other districts, forward by fulfilling the basic needs of the people including education, health, irrigation and drinking water under the program ‘Pibidemu Polonnaruwa’. He said he would personally visit every Divisional Secretariat from next January to monitor the activities.

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero, Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksha, Chief Minister of the North Central Province Peshala Jayarathne and the Member of the Provincial Council Sampath Sri Nilantha also were among those who participated at this occasion.

Meanwhile, the President made an observation tour of the District Court Complex, Polonnaruwa.

He looked into the development activities of the court complex and held cordial discussions with its staff. Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksha also joined this observation tour.