Japan helps to develop Nuwara Eliya

P. Rajaratnam in Nuwara Eliya

The P-TOMS agreement was lauded by the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council at its monthly meeting under the chairmanship of Mayor Chandralal Karunaratne.

H.M. Abeysinghe member of the opposition who moved a motion supporting the Joint Mechanism of the government, said that the decision of the President should be considered as a bold step and should receive the applause of all communities in the country, which will bring in a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict within the country.

He said the country cannot go on the basis of parochial and communalistic thinking anymore, but should collectively consider things in the larger interest of the country and its masses.

Abeysinghe said this country had suffered more in the hands of chauvinists, and the people should be concerned of the black July, and periodical communal incidents thereafter. He said places like Nuwara Eliya faced such daring incidents then and even recently at Kandapola. Hence, he said, the masses should take a stock of such ugly incidents and act wiht certain amount of patriotism.

The motion was seconded by UNP member K. Chandrasekar. Mayor Chandralal Karunaratne said that the Japan Bank for International Development Corporation was willing to release a sum of two hundred and twenty million rupees as an outright grant for the development of Nuwara Eliya city with particular interest for promotion of tourism, the development of Lake Gregory and upgrading the city and its surroundings. In this regard the Mayor said that he intends summoning a conference of the hoteliers, guest house keepers and those interested in tourism to identify the areas for developments.

Several members including D.G. Mahinda Kumara, K. Chandrasekar both UNP ruling party members complained the Mayor that expeditious implementation of agreed matters should take place. Otherwise they find it difficult to convince the ratepayers. The Mayor said that the ball was in their Court and that they should have a follow up in such pending issues. However, the Mayor wanted his officials to speed up in all matters where there had been agreement.

The UNP member K. Chandrasekar wanted the former P.W.D. lines at Bambarakelle and the residential units in the Race Course for generations should be vested in them to enable them to renovate and develop them. He pointed out that on an earlier occasion too he has raised this important matter.