Development of entire Southern Province- Hemal Gunasekera

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

A fifteen perch block of land would be given to landless families to build a house said Matara UPFA group leader in charge of Provincial Council election Hemal Gunasekera.

“According to a survey conducted recently there are 7,635 landless families in the Matara district. The UPFA’s “Lands for the Landless” policy will be implemented by the next Southern Provincial Council, he assured.”

Former SPC Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, Land and Livestock Development Gunasekera is the Matara district UPFA group leader in charge of the Southern Provincial Council election campaign. Son of an educationist and founder Registrar of the then Vidyodaya University Hemachandra Gunasekera - Hemal entered politics three decades ago at the age of 22 years from the SLFP bastion Weligama.

He said that he was open to criticism and would like to have any shortcomings on his part corrected.

He assured that he would with the blessings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa develop the entire Southern Province utilizing its enormous resources.

“There is enormous potential for development of agriculture, irrigation, land and livestock in the province.

“Burala Tank irrigation development project estimated by the Central Government at Rs. 170 million was completed with only Rs. 8.2 million by his ministry. In addition, Ilwatta, Kamburugamuwa, Maraba, Enkanda and Heendeniya Tanks were renovated.”

He said that he had issued 75,000 land deeds to regularise the unauthorized occupation of State lands by the landless families.

“No doubt we would win the election with the highest majority. I am ready to carryout whatever tasks assigned to me by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“My sole objective is to serve the people and the country liberated from the ruthless LTTE terrorists by President Mahinda Rajapaksa - the best national leader to assure a brighter future to the country.

“After the election victory a committee of experts would be appointed to study the feasibility of further developing such fields as Education, Agriculture, Health, Industries and similar areas. Further a short term development plan would also be implemented to enable the people to reach quicker benefits.

“A major development program being undertaken in Hambantota, Matara, and Galle districts will be further accelerated to improve the lot of the common man,” he said.