‘Nuwara Eliya to become tourist destination’

Benefits to people from tourism boom:

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The government will be supported in every way to develop Nuwara Eliya as a tourist destination. Measures will be taken to set up street side stalls at tourist sites breaking the monopoly and enabling small-scale cultivators to reap the benefit of the booming tourism industry, said UPFA mayoral candidate for the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council Tissa Seneviratne in an interview with the Daily News.

Tissa Seneviratne studied at S. Thomas’ College and Royal College, Colombo. Thereafter, he was admitted to the Medical Faculty for tertiary education. Later, he entered Sri Lanka Law College. Now he is a successful investor in the field of agriculture.

The UPFA, UNP, SLMC and four other independent groups are contesting to secure power in the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council which is one of the oldest local bodies in the country. The estimated population in Nuwara Eliya in 2010 was 35,000. The Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council will elect its 14th Mayor in the upcoming Local Government elections.

Following are extracts from the interview:

Q: You were an Opposition leader of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and you have one step further to attain the highest position in the Municipal Council. How would you describe the development of your career?

A: I have a strong background in politics in the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. As you know, my father Bandula Seneviratne was a famous mayor in the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. My grandfather D A Seneviratne and my uncle D R Seneviratne were also famous mayors in this Municipal Council.

It is probably due to their influence that I always felt I had to serve the people in Nuwara Eliya which is my hometown. When I saw there was no proper person to direct this council to benefit the Nuwara Eliya people, I decided to join politics.

I supported President Mahinda Rajapaksa at his first Presidential election showing the proper path to the misled people in Nuwara Eliya. Thereafter, on the invitation of the President and direction of Minister C B Ratnayake, I contested for the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and became the Opposition leader.

Q: What made you to join the UPFA to continue your political career despite your UNP family background?

A: This was one of the best decisions I took as a politician. Considering many facts I decided that President Rajapaksa would address the burning issues in the country and I supported him at the Presidential election. I took that decision in 2005 at a time when people could not predict who would be the next President. Some of the ministers were backing Ranil Wickremesinghe those days. Today, I am happy about my decision as this decision contributed in making history in Sri Lanka as well as in the entire world by defeating terrorism that tormented us for three long decades taking the development process backward.

Q: Do you think that there should be a governing change in the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and if so why?

A: Of course there should be a change due to many reasons. Corruption and malpractices in the Municipal Council would hinder development. I protested against the UNP management all alone in the council but in vain.

On the other hand, the UPFA government has been allocating a massive sum of money to develop Nuwara Eliya as a special tourism promotion zone since 1994. But the UNP that was in power in the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council was not able to reap the benefits but worked to degrade the significant features of a unique tourist zone.

In addition, the government has already started a project with over Rs 10,000 million funds to develop Nuwara Eliya which is one of the five tourism zones identified. The project is carried out by the Economic Development Ministry. Sri Lanka Tourism with support of JAICA has commenced a project to beautify Gregory’s Lake.

But the Municipal Council should play a very important role to implement these projects and attract tourists from all over the world bringing prosperity to the people in Nuwara Eliya and the country.

Nonetheless, the UPFA government led by President Rajapaksa has initiated a massive programme to develop this country to be the Wonder of Asia. We know this is not an impossible task for the President who eradicated LTTE terrorism from this soil despite the fact that the entire world thought it impossible. We can see that there are many preludes for Sri Lanka to become the Wonder of Asia soon. But while the government, with good faith, attempts to develop the nation, the UNP that is governing the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council tries to show that the government is inefficient by disrupting all government projects in Nuwara Eliya bringing misery to the people there. So we strongly believe that we should change the party in power at the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council.

Q: You say there was corruption and inefficiency in the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council. Could you give us a few examples?

A: I can give many examples but for the moment I will highlight a few. As you all know, Nuwara Eliya is a tourist destination for both locals and foreigners and its Municipal Council gets an additional income of over Rs 30 million during the April seasonal activities. According to the Municipal Council Ordinance, that income should be remitted to an account of the Municipal Council. But now that amount is remitted to another account. Such a fund is not identified by the Municipal Council Ordinance.

Another example is, when a tender is called for beef stalls, the maximum price should be mentioned but such conditions are not mentioned in the tender. So butchers decide its price according to their whims and fancies. The result is that the people in Nuwara Eliya pay the highest price for beef in the country which is almost Rs 500.

In most places, people have water for only half an hour per day. The storm water system, central sewerage system etc are not functioning properly. Garbage disposal is not organized properly.

Q: Do you think that the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council that was a stronghold of the UNP for over three decades would change at this election?

A: Definitely. People have understood the truth. They see how this government addressed the burning issues in the country and properly handled the inimical forces against Sri Lanka. They also see the genuine need of this government to develop this nation for the people. So the ordinary people in Nuwara Eliya know the UPFA team contesting the Municipal Council election will do their best to develop Nuwara Eliya under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The other fact is that all three former mayors of the UNP have declared their support for me.

At present the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) is a member of the UPFA and we have a few nominees of the CWC contesting from our UPFA list whereby we are confident of mustering the support of over 90 percent of the Tamil votes in Nuwara Eliya.

We also have a Muslim candidate who is respected by the Muslim community as well.

The UPFA has three ministers and parliamentarians from the Nuwara Eliya district which is a clear indication that Nuwara Eliya has already obtained the mandate of the people. So there is no challenge before us.

Q: What is in your agenda to develop the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council area?

A: One thing I must say is that the income of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council will be remitted to a fund of the Council according to law. The government will be supported in every way to develop Nuwara Eliya as a tourist destination. Measures will be taken to set up street side stalls at tourist sites breaking the monopoly and enabling small scale cultivators to reap the benefit of the booming tourism industry.

Another issue is that most people do not have deeds for their plots of land. Therefore, they face problems when they need to apply for loans. All issues of the small number of residents of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council area should be solved without delay as per the wish of the President of this country.

Q: What is your request to the people in Nuwara Eliya?

A: Your heart knows who really love this nation and brought freedom for all. So cast your vote to select those who serve all communities and distribute the dividends of development to the people.