Chairman Speech
I am very happy to have the opportunity to extend my greetings to the beloved 50,000 people living in an area of 74.5 square kilometers, as the new Chairman of the Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha, the beautiful face of the south.
After a very decisive election result when no political power could directly claim the position of Chairman, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest respect and gratitude for the decision taken by my dear fellow Members of Parliament from 4 political parties and 2 independent parties to make me the first citizen of Benthara, putting aside all privileges and facing any challenge that may arise, with courage and self-confidence.
Through the practical and theoretical experience, I have gained while serving as a member of the Bentota Pradeshiya Sabha continuously since 2006, I am committed to serving to the best of my ability, day and night, for the betterment of the beloved people of the entire Bentota area in the coming period.
I have come to understand that the role of a local government institution is a very special role, intertwined with the bark of the tree, not only from the moment a child is born to the moment when people’s last breaths merge with the air, but beyond that to the moment when the smoke of the crematorium joins the air. My vision is to expand our services and bring them closer to the people by going beyond the normal procedures of a Pradeshiya Sabha, such as waste management, street lighting, road construction, water supply, health services including Ayurveda, library services, and pre-school activities, and by introducing a creative service that is suitable for modern times with new ideas and proposals.
I believe that we should enhance our religious and cultural heritage by creating a beautiful Bentota, which is my theme, by taking the historical Galapatha Anubhudu Kashyapa Perahera, which takes the city of Bentota to the world. It is also my hope to provide our best services to further build the heritage Bentota, which is undoubtedly a leading destination in the world tourism industry.
I firmly believe that I will receive the support and warm blessings that the entire House of Representatives, including the Honorable Deputy Speaker, has given me so far in the past year, for the coming year as well.
D.Premakumara Lasantha Wijewardhana,
Chairman,
Bentota Pradeshiya Sabhawa.
