Over 1,200 development projects for Kurunegala district

M.A.R. Manukulasooriya, Hiriyala group correspondent

Over 1,200 development projects will be implemented in the Kurunegala district costing Rs. 491 million, said Kurunegala District Secretary Jayantha Bulumulla.

The District Secretary said so at the monthly meeting of the Kurunegala District Co-ordinating Committee held at the auditorium of the D.S. office.

Minister of Rural Industries Development and Self Employment Promotion S.B. Navinna and North Western Province Chief Minister and Co-Chairman of the Committee Athula Wijesinghe presided.

Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe said the Samurdhi well at Pothuwewa, Kuliyapitiya had been constructed without using any cement. I directed the responsible authorities to stop that work."

Jayantha Bulumulla, District Secretary: "I received a complaint regarding this matter from the Chief Minister. I directed my officers to look into it immediately. Has any payment been made for this work?

Chief Minister: Construction work on the well had commenced even before the agreement was signed. Although construction work was carried out, they have not signed any agreement.

Even the Divisional Secretary of Kuliyapitiya East is not aware of this. A sum of Rs. 300,000 has been allocated for this work. At most a sum of Rs. 50,000 must have been spent for granite. What happened to the balance money? These are public funds. The Divisional Secretary too should be held responsibility for this.

Kurunegala District Assistant Samurdhi Commissioner, Indu Jayasekera:

"A report on this matter is being prepared by our officers. I will take necessary action.

District Secretary: "Several problems have arisen regarding the distribution of Samurdhi goods to recipients in the Mawathagama and Nikaweratiya areas by the Co-operatives outlets. Although we have warned them, we are still getting complaints against them. If the situation continues in this manner, we will have to make a decision."

Assistant Samurdhi Commissioner, Indu Jayasekara: It is reported that the Samurdhi recipients are provided with unnecessary goods by the Co-operative outlets. This irregularity is being looked into by us.

District Secretary: "We have been directed to implement the electricity projects funded by the Ministry of Nation Building through the Ceylon Electricity Board. Are we given only minor projects?

Minister of Nation Building Salinda Dissanayake, "We decided to implement major projects by the Ceylon Electricity Board through the Ministry. We have given only minor projects. You can implement them.

Chief Minister: But our Provincial Council and the Ministry of Nation Building have been allocated the same amount of money. This too is a problem.

Minister Salinda Dissanayake: "All Organisers of electorates were granted Rs. 10 million each for electricity projects by our Ministry.

District Secretary: "Work on the Deduruoya Project is in progress."

Director of the Deduruoya Project, H.M.T. Bandara: "This project has become an educational project today. Schoolchildren and university students visit this project almost everyday. A two and half kilometre dam is being constructed. This is one of the largest dams in Sri Lanka.

Deputy General Manager of Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWP) G.V. Wijerathna: It has been planned to construct water supply schemes in Pannala and Narammala. The Cabinet has already approved these projects.

Minister of Rural Industries and Self-employment Promotion, S.B. Navinna: The villages around Magalla Wewa should be provided with water.

Kurunegala District MP, Namal Karunarathne: There are eight houses within the electric fence erected to drive away the wild elephants at Polpithigama. It is difficult to remove the houses, so they should be granted alternative lands. This has become a serious problem.

Polpithigama Divisional Secretary H.M. Thilakarathne: Only six families live inside the electric fence. They live in a jungle area.

District Secretary: "Don't plant trees like Ipil Ipil on reservation lands. They are harmful to the environment. The catchment area of the Hakwatunaoya reservoir has already been destroyed by such trees. We should try to grow trees like Jak.