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Well known for its picturesque lagoon, a paradise for shallow sea fishing activities, Puttalam lies on the North Western coastal belt. Bordering the Kala Oya and Modara Gam Aru in the north, Anuradhpura and Kurunegala districts in the east, Ma Oya in the south and the Indian Ocean in the west, Puttalam is home to people of every faith and race. History of this dry zone district runs back to the arrival of North Indian Prince Vijaya with his 700 men 2500 years ago in Tammanna in the coastal belt above Puttalam whose vessel was washed ashore. Thonigala the homeland of Kuweni is deep in the district. Situated at the apex of the coconut triangle, Puttalam is the second largest coconut producer of the country. And Tabbowa, a fertile land for agriculture records highest paddy production per acre. Holland fort at Kalpitiya, St. Anne's Church in Thalawila and Munneshwaram Kovil in Chillaw underline the historical importance of this isolated region. The district has its own set of grievances. The neglected infrastructure pose a serious obstacle to sustainable development. Poor educational and health care facilities hinder the forward move of the local people. A well designed rural development project is the need of the hour. Contesting Parties People's Alliance, United National Front, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Sihala Urumaya, Sri Lanka Progressive Front,Democratic United National Front, Muslim United Liberation Front, National Development Front, Ruhunu Janatha Party, New Left Front, Sri Lanka National Front, Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabha and three Independent Groups. Registered Voters Puttalam
- 84,866 Solution to water issue-Milroy S. Fernando [PA] Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Deputy Minister Milroy Fernando pledges to work his best to upgrade the living standard of the local fishing community. Identifying sea erosion as a serious obstacle to the Fisheries industry, he plans a sea protection program at a cost of 6000 million rupees. A housing scheme will be set up at a cost of 30 million rupees for those who have lost their houses due to soil erosion. In a bid to find solutions to the water problem in the district, Mr. Fernando plans to set up portable water supply projects at the local council levels. Every local council will be awarded 20 million rupees each, he says. The businessman turned politician identifies the renovation of desolate tanks and irrigation works as a priority of the PA. He plans to accelerate the construction of currently stalled Neela Bemma scheme and set up agriculture wells. Introducing new farming methods to the farmers is one of his plans. He plans to set up new industrial parks and recruit youths from the locality to the Government sector jobs. Milroy fernando pledges to address the teachers shortage in the local schools by transferring excess teachers from other areas. Educated at St. Joseph's College and Joseph Vaz Central Colleges, Wannappuwa, Milroy Fernando took control of family business. He was elected a provincial councillor in 1987 as a member of the United Socialist Alliance. In 1989 General Election, he was elected an MP. He was re-elected in 1994 and 2000. Sea water desalination project-Neomal Perera [UNP] Puttalam district UNP leader, Neomal Perera pledges to eradicate unemployment in the district within first three months of his election. Claiming closure of factories has increased the number of unemployed by thousands the businessman turned politician says remedies to re-open the closed garment factories are included the National Development Plan of the UNP. A future UNP government will hold talks with the European Union to increase the amount of garment quota. Claiming that the local fishermen have now become hopeless due to various restrictions imposed by the Government -such as the ban on boat engines above 10hp - Neomal Perera promises to remove all such restrictions on the local fishermen. He calls the Neela Bemma project a failure and pledges to breath new air to the currently stalled project through the recruitment of qualified agricultural consultors. He plans to renovate 200 desolate tanks with in a year of his election. In a bid to provide permanent solutions to the prevailing water shortage, Neomal Perera plans to set up a sea water desalination project. Having received his primary education at St. Joseph College, Neomal perera took his family business. He entered politics in 1994 winning the General Election. General Election Results
- 10.10.2000
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Produced by Lake House |
