Facelift for Colombo

By Ananda KANNAGARA

Sujeewa Devappriya, the young UNP candidate who is contesting Colombo North at the forthcoming Local Government Election is of the view that no one could stop his party's victory at the election on October 8.

He says that after the Left stalwart the late Dr. N.M.Perera assumed duties as the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) in the late 50s, no person in any other political party other than from the UNP was able to come up to that position.

Sujeewa said even a prominent figure in the Sri Lankan politics, now a Cabinet Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara was unable to defeat former Mayor Imithiyaz who was a novice politician and contested under the spectacle symbol.

A father of a daughter and son, Sujeewa said he had lots of programs in his mind to be launched in the Colombo area after the election.

Following are excerpts of the interview.

Q: Are you a fresher to politics?

A: I have been involved in politics for the past 15 years, but this is the first time I am contesting for an election and I am proud to be a member in the CMC if I am elected. I was encouraged to take to politics by MP Ravi Karunanayaka and Provincial Council Member Hashan Tillakaratne .

Q: If you are elected as a member and if your party wins the election what are your future plans?

A: I am reluctant to talk or criticise the work done by other members in the past, but I have to tell I have lots of programs in my mind for the benefit of people in Colombo. I have already forwarded my election manifesto. If I tell something in brief I would like to say that first I pay attention to launch a proper garbage collection and disposal system.

According to that system not even a single piece of paper or garbage bag should be seen on the roads of the City of Colombo. I think our streets must be very clean like those in Singapore. I also have plans to start a garbage collection system even at night, so that roads will be clean and nice the following morning.

Q: How will you overcome the flood situation in the city?

A: We have to focus special attention towards that and I hope to clean waterways and drains at least every three days so that it will even to destroy dengue breeding grounds as well as to overcome the existing flood situation.

Q: Do you have any plans to help shanty dwellers?

A: There are over 800 families in the city who live in shanties and they do not even have proper employment .

I have decided to take up this matter to the Central Government and take measures to construct low cost houses within a period of two years. In addition I will speak to the Water Board and provide a proper drinking facility for them.

I personally see most CMC members forget the needs of this shanty dwellers and they do not visit their shanties after elections. I have also decided to construct more toilets and bathing rooms for poor people living in the area.

Q: There are several by-roads in the city and no repairs have been done for several years to renovate them. How do you see this?

A: Although many of our main roads have been carpeted, there are a large number of roads that need immediate renovations.

The CMC has not taken any measure to repair them, but I have plans to do a survey on such roads which are in a dilapidated condition and take measures to repair them in a short period.