Minister Rishad’s New Year Request to Staff and his visit to Sinhala Villages in Vavuniya

Minister of Industries and Commerce, Hon .Rishad Badiudeen, while participating as the Chief Guest in New Year celebration organized by the Ministry staff in the Ministry at Kollupity requested the staff thus “ Let us forget all our differences, develop power of thinking new and cultivate good relationship with each other in this New Year. Thirty (30) year war is over and people are enjoying the fruit of peace now. We should protect this peace. As the Ministry is concerned, lot of work is before us. We get together and complete the work efficiently and effectively. The officers attached to my Ministry are working day and night to achieve targets and their work is commendable. I won’t allow any injustice be done to any of my Ministry employees. You are at liberty to come and tell your problems. We should support all efforts taken by the Government to bring ethnic reconciliation and promote co-existence of different races. During the last stages of the previous Government, communalism raised its’ ugly head,which led to its’ end. There are some forces trying their level best to create hatred among different ethnic groups (Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils) and achieve their sinister objectives beneficial to them.We should join together to defeat these hidden forces. After coming to office, we should forget about each ones ethnicity, race or religion and work together for the common benefit. If you do that definitely you will get benefitted”.Ministry Secretary, T.M.P.B.Tennakone along with senior officials participated in the New Year Celebrations held on 1st January 2016.Rishad , Minister and leader of CMC made a visit to Sinhala villages, Maradamaduwa, Ulukkulam and Kelagath Siyambala on Saturday to find out villager’s shortcomings , difficulties and requirements. After an interaction with the villagers, he distributed essential items including sports equipment and chairs among villagers. He categorically stated there, that he would fulfil all election promises given to them during election. He sincerely thanked Sinhalese villagers, who have worked hard during election for his victory. During the peak of war, he risked his life and visited these villages and rendered whatever possible help he could deliver to them at that time, he recollected. Although he is a Muslim, he has served Sinhalese as well as Tamils without any discrimination, he said. Those, who cannot digest his popularity and rapid growth are jealous of him and try to figure him as a communalist. He is the one,who has helped Vavuniya Buddhist Temples much. Peoples’ conscious know this very well. Continuing his address, he said that the villagers would have worked for different political parties and that is their democratic right. But Vanni is concerned he reminded them that he is their MP representing them in parliament. Apart from that, he is the only Cabinet Minister from the entire Northern Province. He sought their cooperation in future and promised help to them. Northern Provincial Council Member Jeyatillake too spoke during Minister’s visit to Sinhalese villages. Despite heavy rain large crowd gathered to receive the Minister and his delegation.