by Franklin R. Satyapalan
SLMC leader and Minister of Port Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Rauf Hakeen on Thursday stated that he wished to pursue the goals that have been set in keeping with the vision of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to create separate ministries for regional development.

He has already identified a separate Ministry for Central Regional Development, a Ministry for Southern Regional Development, Western Regional Development.

He said the Eastern Development Ministry would concentrate on developing the Eastern sector.

The SLMC leader who was welcomed to his Ministry of Port Development and Shipping by thousands of port workers including members of United National Front Trade Union.

"I am incharge of two different ministries, the first portion of it is the Ministry of Port Development and Shipping, the other Ministry concerned in Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs," he explained.