Nandana Gunatilleka new Chairman of Panadura UC

Kapila SOMARATNE Panadura group corr

Former Tourism Minister Nandana Gunatilleka who was elected to the Panadura Urban Council with his five colleagues, assumed duties as the Chairman of the Panadura Urban Council on Thursday 31.

The official ceremony was held at the Panadura Urban Council premises. Maha Sangha with Ven Pothupitiye Pannasekera Thera, President of the Panadura All Religions Foundation with other religious leaders too graced the occasion.

New Chairman Nandana Gunatilleka, addressing the gathering said that on a request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he contested the Panadura Urban Council with other Eksath Janatha Nidahas Sandanaya candidates and was elected to the Council.

As the Chairman, he wanted the cooperation and assistance of the Maha Sangha and the people, leaving their political differences to develop the Panadura Urban Council area which had been neglected for several decades. The storm water problem should be solved, he said.

There were several matters which needed urgent solutions. The increased property tax was another problem which was faced by ratepayers, he said.

He paid tribute to Deepthi Abeywickrama, the former Chairman and present UNP Councillor who was present at the meeting, assured his cooperation to develop Panadura.

Nandana Gunatilleka also paid tribute to Health, Indigenous Medicine, Childcare and Women's Affairs Minister Jagath Angage of the Western Province Provincial Council, for funding the projects implemented by the Western Province Provincial Council to develop public roads and the Panadura hospital.

The newly elected councillors of the Eksath Janatha Nidahas Sandanaya took oaths before Minor Small Export Crop Promotion Minister Reginald Cooray.

Speaking at the ceremony the Minister said that he did his best for the development of Panadura during his tenure of office as a Parliamentarian and as Chief Minister of the Western Province and now a son of Panadura has been elected as the Chairman of the Panadura Urban Council.

Health, Indigenous Medicine, Childcare and Women's Affairs Minister Jagath Angage said that during the past year the Western Province Provincial Council had spent nearly Rs 200 million to develop public roads and the Panadura Base Hospital.

A new operating theatre was also constructed. He too paid tribute to Panadura UC Special Commissioner W S I Wijesekera who performed his duties well. He assured his fullest support to the new Chairman to develop the Panadura electorate on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Vice Chairman Rienzie Fernando, Ven Katugoda Jothirathana Thera also spoke. The Maha Sangha chanted Pirith and invoked blessings on the Chairman and new Councillors.