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by P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The Urban Development Authority came under severe criticism by both members of the ruling UNP and the PA opposition of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council at its monthly meeting presided over by the Mayor Chandana Karunaratne. They alleged that by the actions of the UDA, they were trying to disrupt the unity and concord among the different communities.

L. Nehruji, alleged that he could adduce facts and proofs of the recent actions of the UDA officers in Nuwara Eliya. He requested the Mayor to take up this matter with the highest authorities. Nehruji (UNP) said in the recent years, the UDA has been arbitrarily taking measures with regard to the allocation of shops and breaking down shops without any intimation to the Council, he alleged.

D. Mathavan (Ind) said that in the recent allocations of shops in the New Bus Stand Complex, there had been a serious disparity and those who had shops already have been reallocated.

H. M. Abeysinghe (PA) strongly hit out against the UDA and said the UDA gets ready with development plans for Nuwara Eliya with the change of governments. He said it was a glaring omission for the UDA to have dropped out the name of the President of the country, who had originally allocated a sum of 50 million rupees for the New Bus Stand complex and no mention of such gesture, either was mentioned at the opening nor the President's name had been engraved in the plaque. He said the UDA's functions in Nuwara Eliya should be regularised in the interest of the people and the Municipal Council.

At the outset Deputy Mayor Ponniah Sivarajah paid high tributes to Mayor Chandana Karunaratne for his magnanimity and gesture by awarding twenty scholarships to needy children of all communities in Nuwara Eliya. He said it should be an example to the whole country, where politicians should follow suit. He added the Mayor had accrued his two years earnings in the way of his salaries and other perks for this purpose.

L. Nehruji (UNP) said that the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council had always been in the forefront in helping schoolchildren in the past, he added that he was a senior member of the council, and he himself was a recipient of free books, and from other leading politicians of Nuwara Eliya. He thanked the mayor for the present step he had initiated. K. Balakrishnan (UNP) while thanking the mayor, said that he as the President of the Nuwara Eliya Hindu Cultural Association had taken similar steps towards awarding ten scholarships to needy children. Bandula Seneviratne (UNP) and several others spoke.

Mayor Chandana Karunaratne, thanked the members for the kind words expressed on his behalf. Mayor said he would very cautiously handle the UDA affairs in the interest of the people of Nuwara Eliya and the Municipal Council in general.

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