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More tourist hotels required when harbour project is ready - Minister Kularatne

From M. Nelson Piyaratne Kataragama group correspondent

After the completion of Hambantota harbour about 200 tourist hotels will be needed in Hambantota area to provide accommodation to foreign tourists, at the same time Kataragama will also be developed as a tourist city. Therefore adequate arrangements should be taken to develop Kataragama.

Southern Province Development Minister Ananda Kularatne expressed these views at the awareness programme conducted for the Kataragama Urban Development Authority and Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha held at Kataragama President's circuit bungalow on September 7.

Incumbent of Kirivehera Rajamahavihara and Chief Sanghanayake of Ruhunu Magam Pattuwa, Ven. Dr. Aluthwewa Soratha, parliamentarians Jayasundara Wijekoon, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, J. M. Ananda Kumarasiri, Chairman of Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Asoka Wickramasinghe, Acting GA Moneragala H. A. Ariyadasa, Acting Divisional Secretary Kataragama R. M. Hemachandra, DIG Southern Province D. W. Pratapasinghe, SSP Tangalle division Willie Abeynayake and Deputy Director General of UDA K. V. Dharmasiri also participated on this occasion.

Minister Kularatne said that the range of the Kataragama town should be increased by quarter mile to half mile to accommodate the increasing influx of pilgrims. Business places should also be limited otherwise nobody will get business, he said.

He said the UDA has been vested with power to supervise the construction of buildings and the builders must stick to the rules of the UDA. In addition to that the Pradeshiya Sabha must cooperate with the UDA in removing unnecessary buildings in the town. The Minister said that a cabinet paper has been submitted to develop the Kataragama town. If the UDA officers have problems in executing their duty, they must discuss with the Pradeshiya Sabha members and come to an agreement. The nameboards of the UDA must be displayed in the empty lands that belonging to the UDA.

The Deputy Director of the Kataragama UDA W. M. Dayaratne said that when they went to inspect unauthorized buildings in the town the owners of those places threaten them. They complained to the Kataragama police but the police didn't take any action when they threaten them with death even in the police station.

DIG Pratapasinghe denied this and Moneragala district MP Madduma Bandara said that if there was such a situation it was a grave matter. The DIG promised to give his cooperation to the UDA in executing their duties.

The Deputy Director General of the UDA said that there are more powers with the Pradeshiya Sabha to remove unauthorized buildings. The Pradeshiya Sabha must give their assistance to the UDA officers.

The Chairman of the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha Asoka Wickramasinghe said that those who have erected unauthorized buildings have lived in them since 1987 so give them alternative places. Weerasinghe said that the UDA has not handed over some lands to them. They are overgrown with bushes and give an ugly look to the town. When the Pradeshiya Sabha tried to start a park at the green belt the UDA didn't give its approval.

Moneragala district MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that there were no plans for the Pooja Vatti shops in the town so that they would give a plan for them. He said that the clock towers and roundabouts should be given to the private companies to be maintained. Jayasundara Wijekoon, the national list MP said that Kataragama DS office must be shifted to Kataragama town. The new ASP office should be set up in the DS office.

The MP said that 24 bedroomed New Rest House has been closed while pilgrims are driven from pillar to post in search of rooms.

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