UPFA can secure nine seats easily

By Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Former Mayor of Kurunegala Municipal Council Nimal Chandrasiri de Silva has set up a record as a Mayor who has been undefeated and been a mayor for 20 years since 1991 up to date. Silva who was mayor on three occasions under the UNP regime crossed over to the UPFA Government in 2006 and contested the Kurunegala MC under the UPFA banner and was re-elected for the fourth time by obtaining the highest number of preferential votes on the UPFA list.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer he said he is confident that the UPFA will definitely be able to secure nine seats and the UNP will get only three seats in the Kurunegala MC at the forthcoming Local Government polls.

According to him, the Kurunegala MC is the only MC which has been able to implement several mega development projects such as the country's largest bus stand and the proposed full-fledged shopping mall with parking facilities for 600 vehicles.

He said the Kurunegala MC has set up a perfect example of how to increase revenue of an MC without becoming a burden to Government coffers.

He said at present many strong UNPers have joined hands with the Government and they would definitely vote for the UPFA due to the leadership given by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the country and the bold step taken to defeat three decade old conflict.

Q: How is the UPFA campaign progressing for the election?

A: At present the UPFA has commenced a very successful and effective election campaign with the intention of winning Kurunegala MC. We have already commenced house-to-house campaigns to educate voters about the work fulfilled by the MC under the UPFA administration over the past few years.

As the former Mayor of the MC, I have also prepared a booklet to be distributed among voters in the city about tasks that have been fulfilled by the MC under my leadership.

Since 1991, I have been elected mayor of the Kurunegala MC on consecutine occasions and held the post for twenty years. I have created a record in this regard. During the 20 years I have shown that as a politician I have fulfilled the pledges given to the people in Kurunegala.

Q: Are you satisfied with the work fulfilled by the MC under the UPFA administration during the past few years?

A: Definitely. The MC has already started to reconstruct the Kurunegala Rest House and convert it to a tourist resort with 52 luxury rooms.

The estimated cost of this project is Rs.30 million. A children's park has been constructed in Kurunegala city with imported equipment.

The MC has already started to construct a full-fledged shopping mall at Wehera, Kurunegala.

This mega shopping mall which is estimated to cost Rs. 16 million includes supermarkets, hotels, 24 apartments, shops, two theatres, offices and a car park which has parking facilities for 600 vehicles.

The MC has also made arrangements to construct the Kurunegala central market which has been estimated to cost Rs. 500 million.

Q: Are you confident that the UPFA would be able to win the Kurunegala MC?

A: Our victory is very clear. The power of the Kurunegala MC was retained by the UNP over the past 50 years. But I left the UNP and joined the UPFA in 2006. Unlike other politicians, I did not contest from the UNP and later cross over to the Government. I crossed over to the Government in 2006 and then contested the Kurunegala MC under the UPFA banner and was re-elected as the mayor of the MC by obtaining the highest number of preferential votes from the UPFA. I am sure at the forthcoming Local Government election, the UPFA would be able to obtain nine seats while the UNP will get only three seats in the Kurunegala MC.

Q: If the UPFA wins the Kurunegala MC what would be your priorities to develop Kurunegala city?

A: My priority would be to construct the Kurunegala central market. Cabinet approval has been given to construct a new sewerage system to the city. Emphasis has also been laid to construct a new water tank two km away from the city and pump water to it through a special water line from Deduru Oya to provide uninterrupted drinking water facilities to Kurunegala city within 24 hours.

As I mentioned earlier, Kurunegala Rest House is under construction with 52 rooms and a swimming pool. We also intend to reconstruct Ranthaliya Rest House as well. At present, the labour quarters of the MC are in a dilapidated condition. I have planned to construct a new condominium for labourers. The country's biggest bus stand has also been set up in Kurunegala by the Kurunegala MC. I have planned to set up another new bus stand on the Dambulla road.

Q: At present the UNP's grass roots vote base has been demoralised due to the internal crisis. In this context do you think the UPFA would be able to get more votes than the previous time?

A: According to history, the Kurunegala MC was ruled by the UNP until 2006 and I was mayor from 1991 to 2006.

I crossed over to the UPFA in 2006 and contested the MC under the UPFA and was re-elected. From the day I was elected in 1991, I have fulfilled my duties irrespective of political differences. Therefore, the people will place their trust in me and cast their votes in my favour. I represent the people in the city. Therefore I am confident the majority of UNPers will vote for me this time as well. Under my leadership, the Kurunegala MC has secured either first or second place at the competition organised to select the best MC. Our only competitor is the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council.

The Kurunegala MC has set an example of how to increase revenue without becoming a burden to Government coffers. All Municipal Councils and Urban Councils mainly depend on rates and taxes collected from the people. But the Kurunegala MC is the only MC which charges the lowest rates and taxes. It is only eight percent. The revenue collected by Kurunegala MC from other income avenues is higher than income gained from rates and taxes. After opening the shopping mall, the MC would be able to earn a good income.

We have implemented mega projects which have not been implemented by any Municipal Council. We are also way above with the services rendered to the constituents. We have set up a swimming pool and indoor stadium in Kurunegala town. In addition, a lawyers' complex has also been established. There are no pavement hawkers in Kurunegala city. When I first assumed office as the Mayor of the Kurunegala MC in 1991, it had only nine vehicles. At present I have been able to increase the vehicle fleet to 60 due to the close relationship maintained by the MC with various foreign countries. When compared with candidates put forward by the UNP, the UPFA has no competition whatsoever. The candidates put forward by the UNP cannot be matched with the UPFA Candidates.

Q: Do you think defeating terrorism and restoring peace in the country would have an impact on the UPFA vote base?

A: Of course. The people appreciate this and place their confidence in President Mahinda Rajapaksa due to his leadership and moves taken to defeat terrorism. The dynamic leadership given by the President has helped to change the attitude of UNPers in favour of the Government. As long as the President Mahinda Rajapaksa rules the country, the UNP will not be able to recover from its crisis. At present there are no UNP stalwarts not even in the Kurunegala district. Most of them have crossed over to the Government.

Many families in Kurunegala who were for the UNP have also joined us. The UNP is not in a position to appoint a proper organiser. UNP nominations have been given to people who are not well-known. The UNP has not been able to present even their own policy for the Kurunegala MC. The UNP policies formulated by me when I was the mayor under the UNP have been presented as UNP policies.