Five years of development - Galle district:

New vistas for Galle

by Shirajiv Sirimane in Galle

The Southern Province which was virtually ignored for several decades has now reawakened and would be one of the most developed districts in the country in the new millennium. Galle first came to limelight when Portuguese landed in 1505. A fort and a lighthouse were built later. A harbour and an airport at Koggala were built during subsequent years.

The new Southern Provincial Council building

The children’s wards under construction at the Karapitiya Hospital.

Since then no major development programs were launched until the private sector realised the tourist potential of the area and constructed a chain of hotels to cater to the tourists. The Koggala economic zone was set up later following the open economy.

The infrastructure that was taking shape was destroyed by the tsunami and it was the present government that shouldered the herculean task of rebuilding the entire South.

One of the major development projects in progress is the development of the Galle Port as a regional port and the first tourist harbour in the region to cater to the future cargo demand and accommodate larger vessels and yachts.

The harbour development project is scheduled to be completed in 2012 with an investment of Rs. 161,912 million. Of this Rs. 3,382 million will be met locally while the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will provide Rs. 1,330 million.

The Galle Stadium which was destroyed by the tsunami has now been rebuilt and it stands out as the pride of the district.

The third major development priority in the district is the Southern highway. The first stage - from Colombo to Galle is nearing completion and would be opened in a few months ushering in a new era.

The Government of India, through the Export-Import Bank of India, will fund the second phase of upgrading the Southern Railway track from Colombo to Matara. They had earlier provided a line of credit to the tune of US $ 100 million under an agreement signed in July 2008.

The upgrading project includes the supply of materials for rail track rehabilitation from Colombo to Matara by the Indian company IRCON (1) Limited. In addition, the Line of Credit is also being used to supply 20 sets of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs), three units of locomotives, spare parts for the M8 class locomotives, plant and machinery for the maintenance of DMUs and construction of maintenance sheds at Aluthgama, Galle and Colombo by RITES (India) Limited.

The track upgrading project would enable trains to run at speeds up to 100 kmph. It will increase the average operating speed from 40 kmph to 80 kmph allowing a passenger express train to cover the Colombo-Galle distance in two hours.

With the rehabilitation of 1,173 kilometres of national roads and 25 major bridges, 99 percent of the road network has been developed.

Vocational Training Minister Piyasena Gamage told the Sunday Observer that today people of the Galle district have no complaints.

“The only eyesore is the bus stand and a new one is expected to come up next year,” he said.

He said that to provide international certification for the youth several vocational centres have been set up and over 4,000 students have been already enroled.

Under the Mahinda Chinthana, village development and Gama Neguma program the villages have been linked to the Galle City, and the City itself is being modernised preserving its ancient heritage.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also strengthened the security of the district with the launch of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Force in the Galle Harbour. The Coast Guard Force will protect the coastal belt around the country and the maritime zone covering 21,700 square kilometres and the 465,800 square kilometre maritime economic zone within the country’s territorial waters.

In addition, the newly established Marine Archaeological Museum in Galle is the only one in the country. It is the successor to the marine Archaeological Museum in Galle which was destroyed by the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.

The museum’s exhibits comprise replicas, models, panels and videos that cover a long period of time spanning from 5,000 BC to the 19th century. The 2,200-year-old model of a ship which was one of the inscriptions found in the North Central Province had been chosen as the logo of the museum.

Southern highway development and a bridge

“These are job oriented centres guaranteeing employment for students when they complete their training. Since we issue them international certificates they could also seek foreign employment.”

The new museum was built with a special grant of Rs. 177 million by the Netherlands Government.

The Minister said that 95 percent of the population has electricity and by the end of the year electricity would be provided for all. The Karandeniya sub-station will provide electricity for 50,000 families. Rs. 700 million has been spent on the project. The Government increased its allocation by Rs. 409 million to supply electricity in 2009. Electricity consumption in the district has increased by 93 per cent. The bund of the Pitadeniya Electricity Project reservoir was raised by 50 metres to provide an additional electricity supply of 49 watts.

Similarly, all residents in the Southern coastal line would be provided drinking water by the end of this year with 13 water supply schemes being implemented. The Koggala Water Supply Scheme was commissioned at a cost of Rs. 530 million and it would provide drinking water for people in Koggala. Habaraduwa, Export Promotion Zone (EPZ), Kataluwa and the Ahangama areas. A 12 km pipeline from the Tahalkalumagoda Reservoir to Ahangama provides drinking water for 35,000 families.A long-felt need has been fulfilled with the construction of the Management Institute and the City Fisheries Market. The Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of Estate Infrastructure Development have allocated Rs. 1,861,405 for the purpose.

The Ministry of National Development has allocated Rs. 861,405 to concrete the area between the Butterfly bridge and one side of the Galle Railway Station. This Ministry has also allocated Rs. 131,827,677.82 to construct a three-storied shopping centre for the traders affected by the tsunami. The Nila Sevana housing project for public servants is under way and steps have been taken to construct the Karapitiya Shopping Complex. Rs. 241 million was spent on the reconstruction and renovation of the Galle Central Post Office damaged by the tsunami.

The old Mahamodara Hospital will get a facelift while the Karapitiya Hospital is being developed with an allocation of Rs. 50 million. A CT Scan Unit was provided at a cost of Rs. 100 million.

Several estate housing development projects launched in 2009 helped raise the standard of living of the estate population. In addition, Rs. 2,315 million was spent for 3,858 projects under the Samurdhi Development program.

Minister Gamage said that they would win the election gaining at least seven of the 10 seats.

He said that people have now realised they had made a mistake by voting for the Opposition in the Galle electorate at the last Presidential Polls. “Hence don’t be surprised if the people give us eight seats and the Opposition ends up with two,” he said.

Pix: Shirajiv Sirimane