Rapid development drive for Kotte

by Manjula FERNANDO

Chief Organiser for Kotte electorate, former Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama spoke to Sunday Observer of the key challenges facing the development of Kotte Municipality area including the housing, flash flood threat and further easing of congestion on the through roads that link Nugegoda, Maharagama and Kaduwela. He says the UPFA has fielded a strong team including a couple of new faces in the mini poll and the UNP is not at all a threat to his party.

Q: Maintaining a clean city is one of the key challenges for the Kotte Municipal Council. Are you satisfied how this has been handled?

A: If we prioritise the duties of the Kotte Municipal Council, one is to maintain the environment properly with good waste management and ensure a clean city. This includes discharge of all the contaminated water and proper collection of garbage.

Waste disposal is being carried out without a problem. But we need a good discharging system of sewer services. So far Kotte does not have a sewerage system. With the assistance of the central government we have sought laying of a sewer system within the Kotte municipality area. This will eliminate all the polluting effects in the soil due to septic tanks used by our residents.

Currently Kotte is covered with septic tanks, these overflow during bad weather. A lot of areas get affected. Having a proper sewer system is our priority number one.

The second is the issue of flash floods. Due to the efforts of the UDA and the Land Reclamation Commission, we have cleared a lot of areas by creating ponds and good water base in Kotte. The Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa must be complimented for expeditiously carrying out these programs at my request. And thereby we have now eliminated the threat of floods for the Kotte residents.

Q: There is an allegation of ad-hoc development and filling of marshy land that contribute to worsen the flood situation in Kotte?

A: Marshy lands are a part of the landscape of Kotte. But what we require is to discharge the water out of Kotte.

This water is not just in house, water coming from the Colombo and Kolonnawa municipality areas also causes us flood. That is an unfortunate thing.

We have to take this out into the sea. Now a major reservoir tanks are being created in various pockets to collect more water within the area and thereby the threat of flood has been eliminated.

Q: The congestion during rush hour due to narrow road network is a major complaint by the voters but unfortunately an area not yet received the attention of Municipal authorities?

A: Yes. The third requirement is a good road network in Kotte to avoid the congestion. More and more middle class residents have moved in to Kotte. A lot of them are owning cars. Kotte has a flow through into other areas, Kaduwela, Homagama, Maharagama, as well.

Therefore we have created a six lane highway linking parliament and Battaramulla and Castle Street. President Rajapaksa started that scheme on a proposal of mine. Now we have a six lane highway. It has eased the congestion to a great deal but similar roads are needed in other parts of Kotte. We are in the process of improving the roads system including the Nawala Road, Pagoda Road, Ethul Kotte–Pita Kotte Road upto Jubili post and then the road linking the old Kesbewa Road up to Nugegoda to Delkanda.

Q: Is there a proposal for an overhead bridge at Rajagiriya?

A: I don’t think an overhead bridge is the answer to the situation in Kotte. We need a true expansion of road network.

We don’t have crossroads there which compel the construction of overhead bridges.

But It will suffice a good solution at Nugegoda junction linking the Old Kesbewa Road and Nawala Road. Even the overhead bridges could cause traffic jams if not properly planned.

And also we are conscious of the playgrounds, and open spaces and parks in Kotte area. There is a low income housing issue in the Kotte municipality area, for that President Rajapaksa has taken the initiative to create better housing at the same places that they are currently living.

Q: The opposition claim Kotte MC is teaming with corruption. Your comments?

A: Some members of the MC was elected prior to my becoming the organiser but every genuine charge if at all will be investigated and will be dealt with.

We have fielded new candidates, there is a good choice of candidates for people to elect to the MC.

Q: The UNP campaign is led by Dr. Harsha de Silva and MP Shiral Lakthilaka and senior parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake who is from Kotte electorate must be guiding their team to secure this important electorate.

What is you take on the UNP team, Do you consider them a threat?

A: None of those people are contesting the election. As far as I know, Shiral Lakthilaka has been dismissed as the Kotte organiser.

He is no longer in the campaign. Ravi Karunanayake has vacated the Kotte electorate and gone to Colombo North.

I have no issue on that. Dr. Harsha de Silva is an extremely respectable politician and I wish him well.

Q: Are you confident that UPFA will once again secure victory in Kotte MC?

A: There is absolutely no challenge from the UNP in Kotte electorate.

This is the fifth organiser the UNP has fielded within the past two years against me. UNP has not succeeded in defeating UPFA in Kotte electorate during this period. UNP is not a threat for us.