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Galle, the Capital of Ruhuna, lies 72 miles south of Colombo on the coastal highway. Its old Dutch fortress is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The country's biggest tourist destination, Hikkaduwa lies 10 Km away from the city. From its coastal border the territory of the district expands up to the rain forest of Sinharaja, also a World Heritage Site. And mountainous territory of the Galle District produces Sri Lanka's best low country tea. Roomassala, the country's legendary terrain over-looking the centuries old Galle Port hides a myth of Indo-Lankan prehistoric relations that runs to the Rawana era. Though the scattered factories through out the district - mainly of the Koggala Free Trade Zone - have generated thousands of employment opportunities, agriculture still plays a major role in the livelihood of the rural population in the district. Despite the ongoing efforts to create more income generating opportunities, unemployment is still high, specially among the rural youth. The collapse of the tourism industry following a chain of incidents locally and internationally has worsened the problem. Burning issues in the South paved the way for several upsurges in the country during the recent history. Attempts by successive governments to implement a massive development project failed. The implementation of the proposed plan for the expansion of the Galle Port, coupled with a rural development program would bring solutions. Contesting Parties Total number of voters Balapitiya - 47,774 Ambalangoda - 61,813 Karandeniya - 60,273 Bentara-Elpitiya - 78,967 Hiniduma - 83,302 Baddegama - 81,026 Ratgama - 71,584 Galle - 68,949 Akmeemana - 73,397 Habaraduwa - 71,473 Registered voters - 698,558 Development in every sector - Richard
Pathirana Former minister and Chief Government Whip, Richard Pathirana claims that more development works have been carried out in the district than in any other district during the PA regime. He claims that drinking water facilities in the district have been upgraded at a cost of Rs. 3852 million during the last seven years. According to him the new engineering faculty of Ruhunu University and new College of Education are his other achievements. Another drinking water project is also under way, he says. A school principal turned politician, Richard Pathirana pledges to continue in the district development process. He promises to set up a new cancer unit at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital and provide it with more facilities. He hopes to set a new industrial park to provide more employment opportunities to the people. Claiming that significant progress had taken place in road development, Pathirana pledges that the process will continue. He promises to work for a society where peace and harmony reins. A graduate of Peradeniya University, Pathirana entered national politics winning the Akmeemana electorate in the 1983 by-election. Massive development plan in hand - Vajira Abeywardene [UNP] A former professional Vajira Abeywardene pledges to lead the country and its stagnant economy in to a new era under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. He promises to provide financial assistance to tea, rubber and coconut small holders of the area. Claiming that the fisheries industry in the coastal area has potential to achieve world standards, if the necessary initiatives are taken by the Government, Abeywardene pledges to provide the local fishermen with modern equipment and training. He plans to carry out a number of massive development activities in the district including the Galle port, a new air port, and the Colombo-Matara highway with the cooperation of the international financial agencies. He hopes to develop schools through the school development centres which will be set up in every school. Educated at Mahinda College and Moratuwa University, where he was the president of the Samavadi Student Movement, Abeywardene entered politics in 1989 as a Provincial Council member of the Southern Provincial Council. He was elected a UNP member of Parliament at the 1994 General election. Boost for fishing industry - Chandrasena Wijesinghe [JVP] A rebel turned politician Chandrasena Wijesinghe pledges to salvage the country from the current socio-economic disaster through a well-planned development project.Claiming that the high price of fertilizer and lack of market facilities have posed a huge set-back to the tea small holders of the district, Wijesinghe promises to solve their problems in a systematic way. He plans to provide fishermen with new know-how and modern equipment and ensure a fair price for their products through a competitive market. He promises to upgrade living standard of the fishing community through the development of health care and education facilities. He promises to fight to protect Fisheries resources. Chandrasena promises to assist those who lost jobs as a result of the collapse of the tourism industry. He advocates a greater role of the tourism industry in the national economy. Claiming that there are limitations for the expansion of the Galle port, due to its natural location, he underlines the need of expanding the port. He would make way to provide employment opportunities to the educated unemployed youth in the district. Educated at Rahula College, Chandrasena Wijesinghe has been a JVP activist since 1976. He was arrested by police in 1989. He was appointed a politburo member of the party after his release in 1994. General Election Results
- 10.10.2000
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