New housing with modern facilities for slum dwellers - Danasiri

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

New housing with modern facilities will be provided to slum dwellers from the same locality. This is because their lifestyles are attached to their locality. Their children attend schools located in the same area. They are employed in the same area. Therefore, shifting them to another place will ruin their lifestyle, said UPFA Mayoral candidate for Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council Danasiri Amarathunga in an interview with the Daily News.

Q: How sure are you about victory?

A: I am very sure of a UPFA victory. There is no doubt about that.

Q: Why did you decide to contest from the UPFA ticket?

A: I have been in the UNP for 20 years. I did a lot for the party. But, I was not treated well by the UNP leader and some members. Therefore, I decided to join with President Mahinda Rajapaksa three years ago, before the humanitarian operation ended. Since then I have been with the President.

Q: What will be the future of slums located within the Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia MC under the UPFA?

A: President Mahinda Rajapaksa clearly said new housing will be provided to Colombo slum dwellers in Colombo and not from anywhere else. The same thing applies to the Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council. New housing with all modern facilities will be given for slum dwellers in the same locality.

This is because their lifestyles are attached to their locality. Their children attend schools located in the same area. They are employed in the same area. Therefore, shifting them to another place will ruin their lifestyles.

We do not intend to shift them away from Colombo. The UNP is misinterpreting this and they are trying to take political advantage.

Q: What are the burning issues of the Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia MC?

A: An issue in the Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia MC is dengue. The MC is now clearing garbage once a week from homes and two to three times per week from business establishments. This is not adequate at all. Diseases spread because of garbage. Drainages and canals get blocked. This is the main reason for the rise in dengue.

Q: If elected, what will be your priorities for the welfare of the people?

A: I will give priority to providing housing and employment for the people in the MC, garbage disposal and environmental management. We will educate people on dengue control and fumigate all required places. The people, at present, do not have a way of disposing garbage. The MC does not clear the garbage for weeks.

A swift garbage collection and disposal system needs to be established under a UPFA MC. Schoolchildren will be granted scholarships and other facilities, assistance will be provided for self-employment, child health and maternal homes will be upgraded and assistance will be provided for mothers and children, religious harmony will be strengthened, the fishing community will be looked after and provided assistance. Measures will also be taken to prevent floods. These are only a few areas which I hope to focus on.

Q: What do you think about the main Opposition, UNP, its candidates and their election propaganda?

A: My election campaign is free of alcohol and posters. I have good support from the community. I feel sad about the UNP campaign. I have been a very good UNPer for 20 years. I did a lot for the UNP. The cream of the UNP is now with the UPFA because of their mismanagement.

There are too many leaders in the UNP and it does not look after its members and supporters. If a member or a supporter fell into trouble, there is nobody to stand by him or her. The party is deserted now.

Even those who are still with the UNP are disappointed now. The UPFA bus is now full. But President Rajapaksa looks after me and my people living in the Dehiwala - Mt. Lavinia MC.

Q: What should be the relationship between the MC and the central government?

A: The central government makes all policy decisions. When we need to tar a main road, the MC cannot be directly involved because it belongs to the Road Development Authority. The MC can make a request from the relevant Minister of the Central Government to get it done.

Without a cordial relationship with the centre, the MC cannot carry out tasks and the people will have to suffer. Both the Central Government and the Provincial Council belong to the UPFA. If the UNP acquires MC’s power, the development drive currently in place will be affected and the free flow of funds will also be affected.