Kandy's past glory to be preserved

By Shanika SRIYANANDA

Shanty dwellers have been in the limelight these days especially with the just concluded LG polls. Politicians held out rosy promises to them - promising them pipeborne water, toilets for every household and good schools for their children. All these promises documented in propaganda leaflets disappear the very next day after the polls. While these shanty dwellers continue to live in the same 'hell'. The 'politicos' never surface until the next election. Once elected will ply on the same route in their luxury vehicles. This vicious cycle existed for ages. However a handful of politicians tried to give them a decent living. The elite never wanted shanty dwellers to be given a decent living as their existence was politically beneficial for them to grab more votes at the next election. Heaps of plans drawn up and heaps of proposals were made but none saw the light of day as all efforts ended on the next day after the polls.

But ... the leader, who made impossibilities possible and popular for making promises reality, didn't serve them with a different spoon. It was the propaganda campaign of the LG election that made the head of State to step into some of the shanties in the city of Colombo.

Even though many politicians are still reluctant to visit a 'watta' (Shanties) as they have heaps of broken promises behind them, President Mahinda Rajapaksa without any hesitation can visit any 'wattas' in the country as he is the leader who implemented mega housing projects for shanty dwellers to secure a decent living and a better future for their children.

His visit to watta also cleared the rumour that they will be evicted under the city beautification project.

The President visited Apple Watta in Maligawatta, Kimbula Ela in Modera, and Somaliya Watta in Madampitiya and had discussions with the people about their grievances before he inspected the construction of a housing complex being built in Mayura Place, Wellawatta.

Nuwara Eliya

This week was a busy schedule for the President who spent two-days in chilly Nuwara Eliya and then rushed to Kandy and Hambantota prior to the LG polls. He announced development plans for the Nuwara Eliya district, including the plan to construct an airport in the Nuwara Eliya district. The President instructed the relevant ministers to select a land for the proposed airstrip as it is vital to have a domestic airport in Nuwara Eliya to promote tourism, which is booming.

During his two day stay in Nuwara Eliya, the President met politicians, professionals, the business community and party activists of the district and explained to them about the massive development program taking place in every corner of the country and said Sri Lanka had emerged as one of the strongest democracies in Asia, today.

He also said unemployment had dropped below four percent due to the rapid increase of employment opportunities and the number of females going for employment as domestic helpers had reduced, and instead the number of skilled males going abroad for employment had increased to 54 percent.

He instructed officials to give him a progress report highlighting the development in the road network, hospitals, renovation of estate roads in the district. The President commended the progress of the development within the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council limits and the steps taken to eradicate malnutrition in the district.

He invited people in Nuwara Eliya to contribute to develop the country as well as the district despite their political affiliations. He said the government had spent a large sum of money to develop the city, although the city was ruled by the Opposition. Taking his morning constitution along the streets of Nuwara Eliya city, the President who witnessed aged-old trees that beautified the city and felled due to adhoc timber felling, he ordered officials to put an end to illegal timber rackets, which were carried out by a certain politician in the Opposition.

Children

President Rajapaksa who loves children, didn't forget to stop for a while to have a chat with a group of school boys that Monday morning. During his stroll he also had a brief chat with children playing in the Nuwara Eliya public playground and a large crowd had gathered along the streets to greet the President and to have a glimpse of the head of State.

The trip to Kandy was a hectic schedule for the President who commenced work after worshipping at the Sacred Dalada Maligawa. It was in Kandy that the President announced that Sri Lanka was blessed with gas resources. The announcement was made at his residence when he met residents of Kandy, professionals and party supporters, had aroused many comments in opposition circles who said it was another 'political gimmick' before the polls but it proved otherwise as it came from a team of scientists.

"While I was on my way to Kandy I received good news early in the morning", the gathering with bated breath for a few seconds to hear what the news was all about. " It was that an exploration team had discovered huge deposits of natural gas in the sea bed," the President said in a joyful tone.

"I thought that there is no better place than this sacred city to announce the good news amidst the Sacred Tooth Relic", the President said adding that the second stage of the exploration had begun and Sri Lanka had started exploring for oil and gas from January this year.

Energy requirements

"This would meet the energy requirements of the country with the blessings of Dalada Wahanse, we would find oil as well," he said confidently and invited everyone to join the Government to make Kandy the 'wonder city', which will be Sri Lanka's model city.

"We will preserve its past glory. It is to be developed under the 'green and walking city' concept with a gamut of facilities to afford comfort for both city dwellers and visitors.

The UNP, during its long rule of the Council had failed to fulfil the aspirations and needs of city dwellers. They had also failed to keep the city which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic, clean and garbage free. Under a UPFA led administration the city would be kept clean and garbage disposal would be done in an efficient manner. The government has already spent Rs. 3 billion on city development. Steps are also being taken to address issues faced by tenement dwellers and pavement hawkers and we are not going to evict any of them from their own environs. But this government is giving them proper houses instead of the shanties they live in," he said adding that the government had bought land to build proper business locations for pavement hawkers within the city and added that this would be done shortly.

He also said that the 58-year UNP rule in the council had failed to fulfil needs and aspirations of the Kandy people. " The UNP is slinging mud at the government as they have nothing to say about their work for the people.

I am not upset when I am insulted as I am a person who worships Lord Buddha daily and invoke merit on God. The UPFA is on a very strong footing and there are no divisions like in other parties".

"Fifty eight years is enough, you and I have a responsibility to develop Sri Lanka's second largest town, Sri Lanka's last kingdom and the one which houses the Sacred Tooth Relic," he said.

He went on an inspection tour to the Kandy Teaching Hospital and instructed health experts to carry more research into the root cause for kidney ailments while assuring government support for treating kidney patients in the country.

The President visited the dialysis unit and the War Heroes Ward at the hospital and said that the government would never reduce allocations made to the health sector as it was vital to have a healthy nation for the country's future.

He said this year's allocation which accounted for more than Rs 90 billion health would be increased next year.

Attending a ceremony to mark National Health Week organised by the Kandy hospital, the President handed over compensation payment to two children - Subharna Jayalath who suffered burn injuries when a hot electric bulb fell on her while being warded in the premature baby care unit at the Kurunegala hospital and K A Sandanu Thisal Damsara who received burn injuries when a hot electric bulb fell on his face at the premature baby care unit of the Moneragala hospital. Each received Rs. 500,000 and Kandy hospital employee Asoka Pradeep Kumanayake whose eye was injured when a cylinder of oxygen exploded while he was trying to fix it to a patient had also received compensation from the President.

At a meeting held at the residence of Environment Deputy Minister Abdul Cader's residence in Kandy, the President said all those who love Sri Lanka are its children and it was his only wish that everyone has equal rights and enjoys dignity.

President Rajapaksa said although there are some evil forces who attempt to rouse ill-feeling between communities, brotherhood and friendship with the Muslim community remains unshaken.

He stressed the significance of giving priority to one's

intelligence rather than making decisions based on emotions.

President Rajapaksa said that a Muslim Education Unit had commenced in the Central Province to enhance educational opportunities for the younger generation and requested the people to have faith in the government.

In his next public address at the opening of the Magam Ruhunupura Administrative Complex, in Hambantota he said measures were underway to bring about a more people-friendly public service that addresses the aspirations of the people and the Government had been involved in massive development initiatives covering the whole country.

"Every person in the country is now enjoying the outcome. The Government will improve this nation to a high position with the implementation of the Mahinda Chinthana Forward Vision, empowering it with more courage, strength and confidence. The Government has allocated Rs. 90 billion for infrastructure development each year. This amount will be increased to Rs. 100 billion per annum from the forthcoming budget. Despite praising the massive development projects in the country, certain factions are in an attempt to mislead the people with misinformation campaigns. This government will treat all communities equally", he said.

Refuting rumours that the government was planning to demolish a mosque in Hambantota for infrastructure development, he said instead the government would develop religious places rather than demolish them.

The Magam Ruhunupura Administrative Complex, which houses 42 government institutions has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,900 million and will provide all state services under one roof.

The President said the complex constructed under the Magam Ruhunupura Town Development Plan with the financial assistance of South Korea will play a pivotal role in public service and such complexes would be constructed in every district.