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by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy South Group correspondent

A conference to formulate plans for the administrations and maintenance of the buildings which were constructed by the Ministry of Central Region Development under the 2KR Projects with Japanese aid was held at the auditorium of the Ministry of Central Region Development at Getambe in Kandy.

Minister of Central Region Development Tissa Attanayake said that a sum of Rs. 154 million has been spent on the construction of the Library buildings for Hetaraliyadde and Bibile, Rs. 56 million for the construction of the weekly fair buildings in Naule, Wilgamuwa, Godakewela, Welioya and Athimale and Rs. 9 million for the construction of the Conference Hall at Udadumbara. These valuable assets have been now handed over to the public and the local authorities of the respective areas must ensure that these buildings are properly maintained and put to good use. It will be the responsibility of the local authorities of the area that it is maintained properly.

He said that the projects constructed under Japanese aid are subject to close checks by the authorities concerned and they will also closely monitor its progress. If these buildings are not put to proper use or allow the conditions to deteriorate, it may be difficult for us to obtain similar aid in the future from that country for development work.

Therefore it is of vital importance that it must be stressed and emphasised that since these buildings now come under the local authority of the area concerned that the Heads of such bodies should ensure that they are administered well and proper maintenance work is carried out.

Minister Tissa Attanayake also said that old and dilapidated weekly fair structures have now been replaced with modern buildings.

Minister Attanayake said that strict procedures must be laid not to permit traders to sell their goods in front of their stalls or at the location of the old weekly fair structures. It must be strictly enforced that all tradings must be done inside the respective stalls. If these guidelines are not strictly not adhered to, then their efforts will be a failure and the buildings will end up in dis-use. This must be avoided at any cost, in the best interest of all concerned.

The two Chairmen of the Naula Pradeshiya Sabha and Wilgamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha in reply said that they had called for tenders for renting out of the stalls at the Weekly Fair complex of their respective areas and that they received a sum of Rs. 800,000 as tender fees and that they had collected a further sum of Rs. 10,000 as rent from those who use this facility once a week.

Chairman of the Upcountry Rehabilitation Commission S. Herath said that all buildings constructed under the Japanese 2KR projects will be vested with the local authority of the respective area and they will be totally responsible for their administration after one year.

After a lapse of one year, these local bodies will also have the powers to carry out repairs and improvements to the buildings without any structural alternations to the originality of the buildings. They must also give them coatings of paint to keep them in good condition and neat in appearance.

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