The people’s President

Rasika Somarathna in Embilipitiya

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday inspected ongoing work at the Embilipitiya Water Supply Project and other development activities in the area. He also visited a number of public places while looking into people’s needs and instructing officials to take prompt action to address issues.

In the morning while engaging in exercises, the President also met children going to sit the Year 5 scholarship exam and engaged in conversation with them.

President Rajapaksa later visited the Embilipitiya Sathi Pola and instructed officials to take prompt action to further develop it under the guidance of Urban Development Authority.

He later visited the Embilipitiya Central Market and directed officials to take steps to develop it in line with people’s expectations.

The President also visited the bus stand and engaged in conversation with the people.

Earlier in the day, President Rajapaksa visited the Uda Walawe National Park and was treated to a sight of a herd of elephants.

He instructed officials to renovate the Udawalawa Tank bund.

The President also visited Chandrika Tank in Embilipitiya and gave instructions to dredge and renovate it to increase the water retaining capacity. The President later inspected the Embilipitiya Water Supply Plant being built at a cost of Rs 923 million. Project Head Nihal Gunawardene said the construction of the water purification unit was complete and work on the water intake unit was ongoing. “This too is expected to end before the end of the year enabling the plant to operate at full capacity,” he added.

The plant has a capacity of supplying 18,000 cubic metres per day. It would provide water to Embilipitiya town, Middeniya road, Thunkama and parts of Uda Walawe encompassing 84,000 families.

The completion of the project would end problems with regards to the availability of drinking water to the above areas.