If the people trust me and place their confidence in my philosophy and mission, I am ready to serve the nation unlike any former Sri Lankan leader, United National Party (UNP) Sajith Premadasa said.

He said his main objective was to find solutions to the problems faced by the people and assist the poor and down trodden to rise from their current predicament, live a contended life and fulfill their basic needs like having their own house, a better employment, healthy life, good education for their children and ensuring security and peace to the family.

“I request you to understand the difference between heaven and hell and take your decisions based on this knowledge,” the Housing, Construction and Cultural Affairs minister said.

He said this at a ceremony held to mark the vesting of 24 houses constructed by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) at a cost of Rs.22 million with all basic facilities like drinking water, electricity, access roads at ‘Sandahasagama’ at Suriyawewa in Hambantota District under the ‘Samata Sevana’ programme.

The minister said certain politicians create hell for the people by fraud and corruption after coming to power on the shoulders of the people.

“Under the previous administration, Rs.100,000 was charged for a paddy field deed, Rs.10,000 for a land deed but this government charges only a nominal Rs.250 for the paper work. That is the change we have made,” he said.

The minister also distributed 24 free land deeds among low-income families while 600 families received free land deeds from the Mahaweli zone, soft loans of Rs.200,000 each to 50 families to refurbish their houses under ‘Wisiri Housing Loans’ programme and Rs.200,000 each to 26 families under ‘Sonduru Housing Loans’ and Rs.200,000 each to 12 families under Shilpa Saviya programme to improve their domestic products.

State Minister of Fisheries and Water Resources Management, Dillip Wedarachchi also participated in the ceremonies.