Massive development plan vital for Galle - Muthuhettigama

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The UPFA Southern Provincial Councillor Nishantha Muthuhettigama will be contesting the forthcoming General Election of the Galle district under the UPFA ticket.

The “Sunday Observer” spoke to Nishantha Muthuhettigama for his views on the upcoming general election.

The outspoken SPC member said that a massive development plan should be undertaken to develop the Galle district stretching from Bentota to Habaraduwa where tourists dwell.

The fisheries harbours of Hikkaduwa, Dodanduwa and Ambalangoda along with agricultural produce have to be developed to uplift the living standards of the people in the Galle electorate. The Mahinda Chintana concept exhaustively deals with development of the country, he said.He said a development plan has to be initiated to usher the displaced people affected by the tsunami disaster and also to uplift their economy. However, a majority of those affected by the tsunami disaster have been provided with houses.

Referring to tourism in the Galle district with an abundance of potential, an up-market, high spending tourists have to be encouraged to visit the area although there was a shortfall of rooms. More up-market hotels have to be built to cater to large number of tourists visiting the Galle district.

He said he would extend his wholehearted support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s development program where the Hambantota and the Galle district will be developed and to give a helping hand to local entrepreneurs as stated in the Mahinda Chintana. A development program aimed at health, education, tourism and fisheries, should be the priority to benefit the 761,000 voters scattered in the ten seats of the Galle district, he said.

Following the conclusion of the Southern Provincial Council election last year the SPC member said that he would take legal action against what he claimed was an election fraud.

He said the outcome of the legal proceeding would show that he received 124,674 preferential votes as opposed to the 71,171 announced by the Elections Department last year.