Under-utilised projects of former regime to be put to use

by Shiromi Abeyasinghe in Hambantota

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa plant a sapling at the Dry Zone Botanical Garden in Mirijjawila, yesterday. Pic by Thilak Perera

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday said President Maithripala Sirisena and Ministers from the SLFP and the UNP had agreed to work together to use the development projects, implemented during the previous regime and idling now. A plan would be put into place to use them, he said.

Wickremesinghe said as the then Opposition Leader, he criticised the way the former government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa invested public money on projects, with no immediate benefit to the country. But they ignored those criticisms and we have to now make use of them, he said.

"We need to ensure these projects are utilised as neglecting them would be a waste of public money," the premier said.

He was speaking during an inspection tour of the Hambantota District along with a delegation of ministers.

The Premier said 437 million US dollars had still to be settled to contractors of the Magampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Intenarnational Convention Centre, which is now idling.

As the Centre is not being used for months, the Premier directed the authorities to use the facility to raise money at least to maintain it. Organisisng cultural events for locals visiting Tissamaharama and Kataragama was one way of doing it, he said.

He also directed the management to reduce charges for the open air theatre at the centre from Rs. 120,000 to Rs.75,000, making it more accessible to users.

The premier also pointed out that the government has identified 2000 acres of land in the Hambantota District for the establishment of industries.

"Lands have also been allocated for housing projects in the district", the Premier added.

He said a proposal is now being discussed to address the water problem in the district by diverting the Nilwala river and technical committees have been appointed to look into these proposals.Housing and Construction Minister Sajith Premadasa, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema, Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Mahinda Amaraweera also participated.