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Fondly called Ethagalpura because of its location at the foot of giant rock - Ethagala - Kurunegala lies at the apex of the coconut triangle. The history of the city runs back to the ancient kingdom of Kurunegala - the then centre of the Sinhala monarchs who kept moving capitals in a desperate bid to avert South Indian invasions. Many highways running to various major cities of the country meet at Kurunegala making this extra warm and humid city busy and crowded - its very location next to the massive sundrenched Ethagala accounts for the heat. This is the third most populated district with 1.4 million people after Colombo and Gampaha. And this is the largest coconut producing area of the country. The coconut estates encompass the district, but now with the local market for coconut oils reduced - a clear victory of the propaganda machine of the multinational companies - the farmers are beginning to feel hopeless. The entire district is not spared the socio-economic problems of the country; poor health and education facilities at village level and neglected infrastructure in the city itself and the rural area pose a huge set-back to local development. Water for agriculture and better markets for harvest are the major issues Kurunegala is facing. Contesting Political Parties United National Party, United Lalith Front, Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhava, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, National Development Front, New Left Front, People's Alliance, Democratic United National Front, Ruhunu Janatha Party, Liberal Party, Sri Lanka National Front, Sri Lanka Progressive Front, Sri Lanka Muslim Kachchi, Sihala Urumaya and Seven Independent Groups. Registered Voters Galagamuwa
- 84,703 Dream of a self sustained district-S.B. Navinna [PA] A businessman turned politician and the present Chief Minister of the North Western Provincial Council Navinna underlines the need to develop the irrigation system in the district to improve agriculture and agro based industries. He says a major irrigation project is underway to restore around 6000 minor tanks which are now all but abandoned. Satisfied with the health sector improvement he plans to develop all small hospitals in the district. The Nikaveratiya hospital was upgraded at a cost of Rs.90 million and a major hospital project 'Suvamedura' was also completed, he says. Stressing the necessity to improve power supplies he says negotiations have already been done with a Japanese company to set up 350 MW power project to add power to the national grid. This will be a boost to investors in industry since energy supply has been was a major barrier. The unemployment problem will also be tackled through encouraging investment. A plan is underway to bring all the administrative institutions to a central office, a project costing Rs.237 million, while allocating Rs.500 million for the development of Kurunegala city. He also expects to solve the district's educational problems mainly caused by lack of teachers for certain subjects by recruiting educated youth as teachers from the district itself. An old boy of Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, he first entered politics in 1977 spearheading the SLFP election campaign in 1977. He successfully contested the general election in 1989. Navinna resigned his seat in 1993 to contest the election for the North Western Provincial Council. Kurunegala will be centre for traders-Gamini Jayawickrema Perera [UNP] A sportsman turned politician Gamini Jayawickrema Perera has a vision to develop Kurunegala district by expanding Kurunegala city as major junction town due to its easy accessibility to many parts of the country. He pledges to turn the Kurunegala city into a centre of exchange for wholesale and retail business. The shifting of more motor vehicle traders to Kurunegala will be facilitated through the expansion of Kurunegala city, he explains. He also plans to attract more investors by establishing more Free Trade Zones. Kuliyapitiya, Katugampola, Bingiriya, Wariyapola and Nikaveratiya will be centres for these development process. The establishment of industrial zones will also be done making Kurunegala city the central point of these Free Trade Zones. He pledges to provide considerably higher prices for the agricultural products of the district by establishing more agro based industries and expects to tackle the unemployment problem through the establishment of these trade zones. A better road network connecting all major cities of the country is a prerequisite of his vision of development. The education level will be improved through the establishment of Technological Institutes to provide better knowledge on science and technology for the students. To break the monopoly of multinationals-Bimal Ratnayake [JVP] JVP Kurunegala district leader, Bimal Ratnayake identifies three main areas - coconut and paddy cultivation and rehabilitation of irrigation systems. Claiming that the small and medium scale entrepreneurs of the coconut related industries are now fighting for survival due to the monopoly of few multinational companies, Ratnayake underlines the need for Government intervention to break the monopoly. He promises to provide tax relief to the farmers and increase the living standard of workers through appropriate measures. The rebel turned politician pledges to restore neglacted irrigation works which are a serious set-back to the local farmer. He plans to renovate 10,000 small tanks within their first 3 years in power. A graduate of the Kelaniya University, Bimal Ratnayake pledges to provide fertilizer subsidies and interest-free short term development loans to the farmers. Claiming the village level infrastructure is terrible, Ratnayake underlines the need for a rapid development project with special attention to Yapahuwa, Galgamuwa and Giribawa. He pledges to provide school children a mid-day meal and increase the expenditure on education up to 5 percent of the GDP - the policy decisions of the JVP manifesto. General Election Results
- 10.10.2000 |
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Produced by Lake House |
