'People strongly support govt's policies'

United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Chief Organizer and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne in a special message on the UPFA's victory at Saturday's Local Government elections said that this is a remarkable victory for UPFA and the people have overwhelmingly accepted the government's policies and development programmes.

The victory of the just concluded Local Government election is a powerful mandate given by the people to encourage President Mahinda Rajapaksa's programme to develop the country's rural areas in the North and South provinces.

Making a statement to the Daily News on the UPFA election victory, Dr Senaratne also said that the most significant feature in the election results was the UPFA victory in many Local Government bodies this time which had been won by the Opposition parties earlier.

The government has won the clear majority in South and this election is worst for UNP and JVP than the Provincial Council election in 2008.

The government has won 45 Local Government institutes out of 65, the minister added.