|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 3 April 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
from P. Rajaratnam, in Nuwara Eliya The Japanese Ambassador in Sri Lanka Seiichiro Otsuka pledged his country's fullest support and co-operation in all perspectives relating to the country's economic development and also its firm commitments towards resolving the ethnic conflicts within the country. He said it was most fitting and appropriate that Sri Lanka and Japan celebrated its 50 years of the two country's strong ties, understandings and the cordial relationships which has existed over the years recently. The Japanese Envoy who addressed a gathering at the New Town Hall here, following the commissioning of the first stage of the Nuwara Eliya Water Supply Project jointly by Seiichiro Otsuka and Minister Arumugam Thondaman near the Nuwara Eliya Golf Links. The Japanese Envoy who enumerated the various Aid and Assistance his government has extended to Sri Lanka said such assistance will continue in the future. He said in the coming years not only the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be developed with Japanese aid and assistance, but the entire country will be developed with the human economic projects. Already several Technical Experts were in the country, which goes undeterred since 1986. Minister of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure Arumugam Thondaman who was instrumental in achieving such a giant water project for Nuwara Eliya said at the direction of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe the project was completed. The Minister thanked the Japanese Government and JICA - for the massive aid towards the implementation of the stage One of the project at a cost of Rs. 900 Million in the interest of 45,000 residents of Nuwara Eliya and the large number of tourists who regularly patronise the city. Minister Thondaman requested the people of Nuwara Eliya to utilise the water project and benefit by it. Mayor of Nuwara Eliya Chandana Karunaratne, who delivered the welcome speech said he was proud as the mayor of this city to participate in this historical function, where the people of Nuwara Eliya will be benefited with adequate drinking water. He thanked the Japanese Government and Minister Arumugam Thondaman under whose Ministry the Water Works and Drainage Board comes for commissioning the project during the beginning of the April Season here. He called upon Minister Arumugam Thondaman to extend his support for the development of Nuwara Eliya. The JICA (Japanese International Corporation's) Deputy Representative Y. Aratsu, who was present in Nuwara Eliya for this special occasion said the people of Nuwara Eliya since the inception of JICA in 1982, has got the support for two projects, the cultivation of Carnation Flowers and Strawberry Citrus in Nuwara Eliya. He said during February 1998 to June 1999, the JICA conducted feasibility study on the Greater Kandy and Nuwara Eliya Water Supply and Environment improvement plans. He said his organisation was currently involved in conducting the development - study on Solid Waste Management in seven secondary cities and Nuwara Eliya has been a major partner of this project. He was happy that Nuwara Eliya waste disposal site as the best landfill site in Sri Lanka and JICA has recommended to make this site as a model sanitary disposal site for the country. Vadivel Sathiyanathan, Chairman of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, said the project will be a great boon for the people of Nuwara Eliya and the influx of tourists to this national Holiday Resort with the inauguration of stage one of the water supply. The Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure N. Wickramage proposed the vote of thanks. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
