Conspirators trying to stall government's development programmes

Priyanka Kurugala

Certain organizations depending on funds from international bodies conspiring against Sri Lanka are active to destroy the government's pro-people development programmes. The time has come to make the people aware about the activities of these organizations, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

He said organizations acting against the public are traitors. The public will rise against these organizations in the near future, he said.

The minister was addressing the inauguration of the Sanitation, Sewerage and Waste Water System in Ekala, Ja'ela. The National Water Supply and Drainage Board constructed the system spending Rs 5,385 million. The inaugural ceremony of this project was held under the patronage of the Economic Development Minister and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

The minister said, these same conspirators engineered the demonstrations against a pension scheme for the private sector similar to the public sector pension scheme that resulted in the death of a demonstrator. In the same way they are trying to prevent the passage of the Divineguma Bill which if approved would provide employment to 20,000 persons. This could significantly contribute to improve the living strands of these people who are living bellow poverty line, he said.

Ekala is the first fully developed industrial zone in the country but this has resulted in pollution due to discharge of industrial waste. Many environmental problems had cropped up in the area.

The new sewerage system has been built as an answer to the many environmental problems in the area. This is a victory of all environmental friendly organizations and the public, the minister said.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardana said, the new system will help in the purification of waste water and release them as clean water to the environment.

This project will be a catalyst for several other water purification projects in the country. Hitherto all sewerage disposal projects were designed to release sewerage into the ocean.

This project is completely different from the above system, he said.

The new system will eliminate all environmental problems arising out of sewage disposal in the area, he said. Social Services Minister Filex Perera, Parliamentarian Sudharshani Frenandopulle, Ja-Ela Pradesiya Sabha Chairman Lalitha Nishantha Abewickrama, Ministry Secretary A Abegunasekera also participated.