Kaduwela will be developed- UPFA candidate

by Ananda Kannangara

Over 230,000 voters in the Kaduwela electorate are impatiently waiting to find out which political party could carry out future development activities in the area during the next few years.

Latest reports indicate that all major political parties including the UPFA, the main opposition UNP and the JVP are contesting to get the main seat of the Kaduwela Urban Council at the forthcoming Local Government Elections scheduled to be held on July 12.

Almost all political parties have now released their election manifestos. The election manifesto, released by the UPFA candidate, Buddhika Thushara Jayavilal, is being talked about by the voters of Kaduwela.

Buddhika is honest and hardworking. He has the strength to develop the area. Forty-year-old Buddhika received his education at Veluwana College, Colombo and left school after sitting for the GCE (AL) examination.

While doing higher studies, Buddhika was engaged in his father's business. This helped him to meet various people in the Kaduwela and the suburban areas. His business activities gave him an opportunity to identify the needs of people in the area. He started various social service activities for the benefit of the people, especially the downtrodden. This background encouraged him to engage in political activities.

He organised Shramadana campaigns and cleaning projects which helped him to keep the city clean. The renovation of the Somawathi Stupa at Polonnaruwa and the construction of `Ranweta' at a cost of Rs. three million was also carried out from his personal funds. The `Ranweta' will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa shortly.

Buddhika also pioneered the renovation of a dilapidated Buddhist temple, the "Bodirukkaramaya" situated near the Mavilaru Sluice Gate at Serunuwara in Trincomalee. The renovation work was carried out at a cost of Rs. five million.

In an interview with Sunday Observer, Buddhika said he decided to contest at the forthcoming Local Government election was to fulfil the needs of people in the Kaduwela area.

He said he has plans to initiate a number of development programs such as the development of road network, the agriculture sector and also self employment projects for low income families.

Buddhika has another objective to construct housing projects in the Kaduwela electorate with the assistance of Housing and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

He thanked Minister Weerawansa for the support and encouragement extended to him to carry out development programs in the Kaduwela electorate.

Buddhika also paid special attention over the unresolved garbage problem in Kaduwela and said a methodical garbage collection system will be introduced with foreign assistance.According to Buddhika, garbage is not dumped all over the place in foreign countries. It is separated in a methodical way.

He said 75 per cent of the daily collected garbage could be turned into fertiliser and the local authority could earn a large sum of money by selling them to farmers in the area.

"I have also a plan to install a re-cycle plant to turn garbage into fertilizer and other refuse such as tin, iron, plastic cans and polythene will be sent for recycling,"

E-waste is also another problem in Kaduwela. I have a plan to collect it in a methodical manner and send it for recycling.

Buddhika also paid special attention to the unemployment problem in the area and said four major factories to process fruit, vegetable and other food items will be set up in the Kaduwela electorate. In addition, he has plans to introduce poultry farms and handloom factories to help a large number of persons who do self-employment projects.

Buddhika has also decided to set up foreign employment training centres for young people who wish to find jobs in foreign countries. He said a large number of jobs in Japan, Italy and Korea will be given to people in the area under a special program to be initiated with local job agents.He has also planned to establish Dhamma schools and pre-schools in the Kaduwela area and donate books and uniforms for children every year.

Buddhika said he wants to start four Economic centres for the benefit of the farmer community in the area as well as for consumers. He said polluted rivers, streams and lakes in the Kaduwela area will be cleaned to solve the dengue mosquito menace. Buddhika further said the problems of persons involved in the granite and sand selling industry will be solved.

He also said he would renovate 77 temples which have been identified in the Kaduwela area under the `Sasunata Saviyak' program and wish to spend over Rs. 40 million towards the project. Meanwhile, Minister Wimal Weerawansa commended the social activities presently carried out by the Mayoral candidate, Buddhika Jayawilal and predicted his victory at the forthcoming Local Government Election.