UDA housing project will greatly benefit slum dwellers - Ganesan

One new building with housing units costs Rs. 2.5 mn:

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

A very good plan has been mooted to build apartment complexes for slum dwellers. At the moment, they are living in small, congested houses without proper drainage systems, toilets or other facilities, said UPFA candidate for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) Prabha Ganesan in an interview with the Daily News.

"One new building with housing units costs Rs. 2.5 million excluding the land value and the drainage system. This is a very good project carried out by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) which will greatly benefit slum dwellers," he said.

UPFA candidate for CMC Prabha Ganesan

Following are some extract of the interview:

Q: How sure are you about victory?

A: The UPFA will definitely win the upcoming Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) polls. There are no checkpoints in the Colombo city now and unlike the early days, the city is now clean. Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa made this possible. The people want development. Therefore, they will definitely vote for the government.

The UNP is now in pieces and one of its leaders has formed an independent group. Therefore, the UNP votes will split. The SLMC and my brother's party, Democratic People's Front (DPF), will contest separately. They will also win a lot of votes. There is no doubt about UPFA's victory.

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

A: If I contest alone I would be able to get a few seats but I will have to sit in the Opposition in the CMC. But if I contest from the UPFA, I will be able to win and sit in the governing side, not in the Opposition. Then it is easier for me to work for my people.

Q: What will be the future of slums in the CMC under the UPFA?

A: A very good plan has been mooted to build apartment complexes for slum dwellers.

At the moment, they are living in small, congested houses without proper drainage systems, toilets or other facilities. One new building with housing units costs Rs. 2.5 million excluding the land value and the drainage system.

This is a very good project carried out by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) which will greatly benefit slum dwellers.

Q: What are the burning issues of the CMC?

A: One issue is corruption. There was a lot of corruption in the CMC during the UNP regime and after. The CMC is very large when compared to other MCs and the income is very high. The income is sufficient to offer a better service to the public living in the CMC area.

UPFA Mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda is a very hard working and friendly person. He is very intelligent and has many links with the international community. With him we can make Colombo a 'City of Excellence', far better than other big cities in the world.

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

A: We can offer a prompt service 24 hours a day. We will take immediate action to solve any problem reported to us by the people. Now it takes days to clear a blocked drain and solve other problems.

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

A: The UNP candidates are very weak. The leadership is weak and has no vision. There are many internal problems. The percentage of Sinhala voters is 45 percent, 9 percent are Tamils and 26 percent are Muslims. Therefore, minority votes are the most important. No proper Tamil candidate is included in the UNP list. All leading Muslim candidates such as Azath Sally are with the UPFA. The rest of the votes will be taken by DPF and SLMC. Nothing will be left for the UNP. The UNP will not be able to secure at least 14 seats. Last time the UPFA won 14 seats.

Q: What is the impact of the relationship between the CMC and the central government on CMC's functions?

A: The CMC cannot operate properly without the support of the central government. The UDA is connected to CMC activities.

If the central government and the CMC are of one party, we can do wonders for the city and carry out a massive development drive. If the CMC power goes to the Opposition, work will be very difficult. That is why the CMC is in the present state today.

The UPFA will win and we should be a part of that victory and development. Therefore, I appeal to the Tamil community to vote for my three candidates and assist us to sit in the winning side.

This is a golden opportunity for all to show their support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who won the war against terrorism. There will be no election for the next three years. Therefore, all of us must get together and develop the CMC.