Eco-tourism, the way forward for Nuwara Eliya - New Mayor

By Jaliya WIJEYEKOON

The 2011 Local Government elections which were held on a staggered basis concluded with the last phase being held on October 8. The UPFA recorded a resounding victory, capturing the power of some Local Bodies which had been held by the United National Party since their inception.

The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council was one such local body which brought forth a great victory for the UPFA Government considering the multi-faceted significance it enjoys among all local bodies in the island. Nuwara Eliya, which has been known as 'the little England of Ceylon' from ancient days, is situated at the highest altitude and enjoys a cool climate almost throughout the year. It is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

With the great victory achieved at the election, the UPFA appointed the highest scorer of preferential votes, D.G. Mahinda Kumara as the new Mayor of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council (NMC). He had been active as an Opposition member of the Council for some time.

The Sunday Observer had an exclusive interview with the Mayor, Mahinda Kumara.

Excerpts are as follows:

Q: You had been a professional businessman involved in the lucrative field of tourism. What made you take to politics and social services?

A: Well, social services had been my forte from my school days and after I became a successful businessman, I have been equally devoting my time, energy and wealth for the welfare of people in Nuwara Eliya over the last few years. I receive immense personal satisfaction from these activities.

Q: When did you enter politics?

A: I have been actively involved in politics since 1994, working for the SLFP, but I contested the Local elections only in 2002 and was elected a member for the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council since then I have worked as a member of the Opposition uninterrupted upto this election.

Q: Nuwara Eliya is a UNP stronghold and you are a businessman by profession. What made you choose the UPFA to do politics or social services?

A: I am a firm believer in social justice and fair play. I have read and experienced the politics and principles of both major parties from my young days and was automatically attracted to the SLFP since I was impressed by its founder leader's motto 'man's chief duty is to serve the mankind'. I supported Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga in 1994 and since then have been working closely with all party stalwarts in the district at all successive elections.

Q: The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council had been a UNP bastion for a long time. How did you manage to win it for the UPFA this time? Is it solely due to your efforts or were there other significant factors which contributed for the UPFA victory?

A: You have to understand the general political trends in the country. The UPFA won all municipal councils except Colombo because of the correct vision of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Government. It would have invariably influenced NMC voters also to elect a UPFA-dominated council.

In addition to that, our team also launched an aggressive election campaign in Nuwara Eliya. I was full time involved in the propaganda activities during the run-upto the election and we got the fullest support from our electoral organiser Minister Navin Dissanayake and our district leader Minister C.B. Ratnayake. All other stalwarts in the party were constantly behind us since we were determined to win the Council for the party and end the long-standing ineffective and fraudulent administration.

Q: The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council had been selected as the best MC in the island in 2006 and over the last few years it had won first place in the Central Province. So, how can you say that the previous administration had been ineffective, corrupt and fraudulent?

A: In comparison to some local bodies, the NMC may be a little better. It doesn't mean that it is very good. Although we were in the Opposition then, we didn't allow the former mayor to do as he please. We always objected to unhealthy moves by the former mayor while supporting him on progressive measures. But, according to the Local Body Act, the Mayor has the immunity to function according to his whims and fancies. The former mayor had spent huge amounts of ratepayers' money for projects which were not beneficial to the NMC area people, but were profitable only to some. That is why we say that the previous administration was corrupt and ineffective.

Q: Despite your allegations against the previous administration, it had been observed during the past few years that Nuwara Eliya is becoming more attractive and tourist arrivals to the city has been steadily increasing. What is the reason for this?

A: Its true that Nuwara Eliya is becoming more attractive, but it is not because of the MC's efforts. It is solely due to the vision and the initiatives taken by the Central Government under the guidance of President Rajapaksa directed by Minister Basil Rajapaksa on the promotion of tourism in this region.

The Government has identified Nuwara Eliya as a Tourism Promotion Zone and has performed an unprecedented degree of development activities to attract more tourists to the city. This gigantic project involves city beautification, Gregory Lake development and regular seaplane services in addition to providing infrastructure facilities.

Q: How was the election campaign? Did you encounter any negative incidents during the run-up to the election?

A: Well, the election campaign was really hectic, but I was fully confident that I would top our list. However, it was unfortunate that some of our own candidates tried to tarnish my image by levelling unfounded and baseless allegations against me. Finally, they had to eat humble pie. This is rather common under

the existing preferential voting system. Sometimes, these occur not because of the candidates' faults or misunderstandings between them, but because of the different type of supporters who engage in the election campaigns. I am very happy to learn that the present preferential system is to be abolished.

Q: Did you have any election-related problems with the Opposition group?

A: I didn't have any problem with the UNP candidates except on party policy matters. It is an accepted fact, not only in Nuwara Eliya, but all over the country, problems arise due to this preferential voting system. It is common to all parties, especially to the party that is in power.

Q: So, do you think as the new Mayor, that you will get the support of all elected members?

A: Those minor problems existed only during the election campaign. Now all members are working together as a single unit and extend their fullest cooperation to me.

Q: As the new Mayor of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council, you have a big responsibility to discharge your duties. How do you hope to work for the city folk?

A: Let me put the facts straight. I am the Mayor of all city folk irrespective of party politics, caste, creed, religion or community. I am Mayor for those who voted for me and those who voted against me. Now my party politics are over. I hope to work impartially to all citizens of the Nuwara Eliya MC area. I won't consider the party affiliations of anybody in discharging my official duties. I shall treat everybody alike in all administrative and official matters. I shall not engage in my party political affairs within the municipality premises.

Q: What are your priorities and major plans to develop the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council?

A: First of all I have to put the house in order. As an administrator I hope to improve the worker discipline which had deteriorated over the years. Official formalities have to be regularised. Accepted procedures should be adopted in all transactions. Interaction of council employees of all levels with the ratepayers has to be improved. Many structural changes have to be effected immediately to provide a more effective and diligent service to the NMC folk.

I have already drawn up a comprehensive development program to uplift the socio-economic standard of NMC city folk while providing a better service to them. None of the previous administrators had paid adequate attention to promote eco-tourism in Nuwara Eliya, maybe due to the lack of knowledge in the industry.

Nuwara Eliya is the most ideal region in Sri Lanka to promote eco-tourism through which a substantial amount of foreign exchange could be drawn into the country.

As an initial step, I hope to convert the Gregory Lake surroundings into a beautiful park with attractive flower beds and endemic trees. I have suggested several innovative schemes to promote eco-tourism while I was an Opposition member in the Council, but the previous rulers didn't pay any attention to them mainly due to lack of knowledge about this lucrative business field.

I also hope to set up an environmental study centre at Bambarakelle through which I intend to cultivate the habit of learning about nature and fauna and flora among our youngsters, in addition to providing information to the public. An environmental committee will be established to obtain support, guidance and direction from all institutions and from experts in the field. The participation of city folk would be obtained to maintain absolute cleanliness, elegance and the charming atmosphere of the Nuwara Eliya city.

I hope to train 2,500 youths from Nuwara Eliya at the Hotel School on all fields in the hotel industry, to cater to the needs of the tourists who will be visiting Nuwara Eliya in future.

With the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the country and the promotional activities launched by the Tourist Promotion Bureau worldwide, the number of tourists to the country will be doubled by next year.

Most European visitors are sure to spend at least two days in Nuwara Eliya, so, we should be ready to cater to their needs.

The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council has to do a lot of work to promote tourism in the area and can easily earn a substantial revenue to the Council while generating employment opportunities to unemployed youth in the area.

We also hope to request all householders in the Municipal area to plant at least one pear plant in their home gardens as an initial measure to launch this eco-friendly administration.

Besides the above, I have earmarked a few more development projects to improve the city area.

A new market complex for Nuwara Eliya has been a long felt need and I hope to attend to this requirement as early as possible to avoid severe congestion during peak hours.

Q: So you have a comprehensive development plan for the city. How would you find the funds to attend to all these projects which are going to be very costly? Do you hope to increase the taxes of ratepayers or impose heavy assessment taxes on the business community?

A: No, no. I shall not burden the ratepayers of the Nuwara Eliya MC for my new projects.

I hope to talk to the Provincial Council and the Central Government and also to negotiate with foreign lending agencies to raise funds for these projects. Now that the Central Government, Provincial Council and MC are from the same party, it is very easy to coordinate with each other and find solutions to our needs. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has a special interest in developing eco-tourism in the country. Therefore, I am sure that he would find me financial assistance for my projects.