Homagama gets Rs. 8.5 m water supply scheme

People in the Western Province are duty bound to give a proper and strong answer to foreign forces and local conspirators trying to give oxygen to the terrorists who are breathing their last in the face of advancing Security Forces, Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena said.

The Minister said so at a meeting at Henewatta, Homagama to mark the commissioning of a water supply scheme costing Rs. 8.5 million on Thursday.

The Minister also commissioned the Watareka South Water Supply Scheme costing Rs. 3.7 million and the Angamuwa Water Supply Scheme costing Rs. 4.8 million.

Minister Gunawardena said people who valued the unitary nature of the state and desired its development and progress have offered their blessings for the humanitarian operation to liberate the country from terrorism.

"They have done so disregarding their political affiliations." He said the new water supply scheme had been completed under a new approach where the Government provided funding and the community contributed towards construction through collective effort.

Village development schemes of this nature gave rise to community leaders. The Mahinda Chintana too had emphasised the strength of community leaders.

Although the Government could have engaged contractors to do the job, it had decided to get the communities itself to handle them because it eased the Government's burden on one hand encouraged unity and co-operation among the community by enhancing their economic means, the Minister said.

Housing Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena and UPFA candidates contesting the Western Provincial Council elections Gamini Thilakasiri, Lionel Kariyawasam, Salochana Gamage and Janaka Weliwatta were present.