Great leap with urban development

Infrastructure, communication facilities will be given a facelift which is vital for developing our townships and administrative network under the Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future program. Part I was published yesterday

Ariya RUBASINGHE

The Hambantota administrative complex designed by local engineers will house all Government offices in the District enabling the people of the area to get their administrative requirements attended to, under one roof, as well as for various projects being implemented in the Hambantota Districts such as Harbour Project, Hambantota International Conference Hall Project and Mattala Airport Project to get necessary administration functions carried out expeditiously.

The complex will consist one main building housing the Government offices, a full-fledged library and a separate building housing local Government offices. The complex will have sufficient parking space and six bus terminals. It will also consist 25 units of office quarters and a dormitory for drivers.

Work on the construction of this project was commenced on October 15, 2007 and the total project cost amounted to Rs 1,250 million.

International Conference Hall - Hambantota

This is a fully-fledged Conference Hall similar to the BMICH which would facilitate to hold International Conferences and other major events, exhibitions etc. Conference work of this project is being undertaken by the Debo Engineering and Construction and the project is financed by the Government of Sri Lanka and South Korea.

It is being constructed in a land area covering 28 acres and the main conference hall consist seating capacity for 1,500 persons. In addition to the main conference hall, the complex will have several other conference halls, committee rooms and other related facilities including cafeterias.

Construction of the main Conference Hall is estimated to cost US$ 6 million while other facilities are estimated to cost around 10 million US dollars.

The project is scheduled to be completed by October this year.

Lunawa environmental project

The Lunawa Lagoon about 6.15 sq.km in extent borders Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Municipal area from North and Moratuwa Municipal Council area from the South. Around 18,000 low-income families had been facing enormous hardships due to flooding during rainy seasons. The objective of the project is to development of access canals and drains leading to the lagoon and reclamation of the lagoon.

The project is implemented under two stages and a major part of work related to the first stage had been completed and this includes development of 6.7 km of the main canals route, 9 km of secondary canal routes, construction of 60 km of drains, construction of 16 km of access roads with drains, construction of six bridges and 103 culverts, and provision of Rest 225 million worth equipment required for maintenance work, to the respective Municipal Councils. The dredging of the lagoon is now underway.

Under the second stage, 883 families resident bordering the lagoon will be resettled with all facilities and this will include eight community centres, five children's playgrounds, and upgrading of six schools.

Under this stage 350 latrines have already been constructed and another 1,483 will be under construction.

The estimated cost for the second stage work will amount to Rs. 5,518.72 million.

Urban areas development projects

The Ministry has completed several projects under this program. This includes, construction of foot paths and beautification of areas around the Independent Square at a cost of Rs 90 million, completion of the first stage of the Navinna Sports Complex at a cost of Rs 66 million, Galle Face uplift project at a cost of Rs. 13 million, Castle Lane development project at a cost of Rs 2.5 million, Geographical Data Complex at a cost of Rs. 1,122 million, construction of the first stage of the Maharagama Divisional Development Secretariat Building at a cost of Rs 193 million, Thalapathpitiya Community Park Project at a cost of Rs. 10 million, Malabe Town Development Project at a cost of Rs. 3.5 million, Kottawa Town Centre Development at a cost of Rs 200 million, first stage of the Thalawatugoda shopping complex at a cost of Rs. 18 million, Boralesgamuwa town development at a cost of five million rupees, first stage of the Padukka grounds at a cost of three million rupees, first stage of Padukka Bus terminal at a cost of 23 million and Mt. Lavinia Beach Garden.

Similar to the aforementioned development activities carried out in the Colombo District, the Ministry has implemented urban development projects in the District of Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Moneragala, Hambantota, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Trincomalee, Ampara, Ratnapura and Matale.

Lakes and canals

The Ministry has also developed several lakes and canals by dredging out sand and silt, renovating and constructing bunds on either side of such lakes and canals and beautifying the surrounding areas. Concluded

The writer is Director General, Media Centre for National Development