Move to accelerate Matara Town development work

By A.W. Gunawardhana - Matara Central Correspondent

The President has allocated Rs 108 million by a Cabinet paper to accelerate the development work of the Matara town soon after the Sinhala New Year, said Matara District Coordinating Committee chairman, and Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma during the discussion held recently at the Matara District Secretariat Auditorium in view of the accelerated Matara Town Development Project.

The mayor of Matara Sosindra Handunge, deputy mayor Ranjith Yasaratne, Matara District Secretary W.K.K. Athukorala, Matara Divisional Secretary B. Ranaweera, SSP of Matara Deshabandu Tennakoon and other officials also participated in this discussion.

During the President's observation and fact finding tour with regard to the Matara town development work, the Minister said that 50 perches of land would be acquired and the construction work of a modern sewerage system for the Matara general hospital would be started, to solve the problem of effluent of the hospital flowing into the Nilwala Ganga.

This acute problem has been pointed out by Chatura Karunaratne MMC, during the President's visit to Matara recently.

Minister Dullas Alahapperuma further said that another 22 acres of land would be acquired to construct a pleasure garden along the Nilwala Ganga. The Minister said Rs 30 million would be allocated for this project and another Rs 20 million would be allocated to renovate the main hall of the Matara Rahula College.

Apart from that another Rs 100 million will be allocated to acquire a suitable ground for Mahamaya Vidyalaya.

The Divisional Secretary B. Ranaweera said that acquisition of land for the construction of the southern expressway from Godagama to Nupe junction is almost completed and after completing payment of compensation all the buildings and structures would be demolished.

The officials said that the problem of drinking water in Matara would be solved after the completion of the Pigili Oya reservoir project.

The Mayor of Matara S. Handunge said that he has taken necessary steps to regulate the removal of garbage in the town by employing another ten labourers.