Saturday Dec 21, 2024
Saturday Dec 21, 2024
Friday, 5 July 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Pannaraya promotions campaign was created to inform the general public of the massive project of development as well as its large number of sub-projects as well to trigger human development and outlines, highlights and underscores the integrated effort of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development and its line agencies, the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation, the Urban Development Authority and the Project Office.
In all of the projects initiated by these organisations, the most significant founding factor of efforts where sustainable development is highlighted is the simultaneous physical and human development. That is engineered by Yakada Minissu or Iron Souls.
Yakada Minissu are those who live retiring lives and silently commit themselves and their lives to the betterment of the people, not with to achieve a self-aggrandising goal but rather, whose only reward is quiet self-satisfaction and the Pannaraya campaign, through these exceptional souls, shall inculcate a similar sense of ownership and partnership in the nation’s project of development.
These projects, arising out of the overarching philosophy of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development, namely, economic wellbeing, spiritual wellbeing, harmony with nature and sustainability, and fed by the commitment of these Yakada Minissu to provide real benefits to the people through these large scale projects ultimately enrich the Pannaraya campaign.
The journey so far…
Instead of forcibly removing slum dwellers from their temporary and illegal dwellings dotting the landscape of the capital city of Colombo which is the economic, political, entrepreneurial and intelligence hub of the country, they were provided the enabling environment to dignify their lives through relocation to high rise apartments by the “A life in lieu of a house” program conceptualised by Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and implemented by the Urban Development Authority through the Urban Rehabilitation Project. This project has already built and handed over 4,758 housing units to the people with a UDA investment of Rs. 21,411 million and at present, there are a further 6,372 units under construction with an investment of Rs. 28,674. Additionally, in order to improve the quality of life of these beneficiaries, the collateral programs knows as Nana Diriya, Ridma Sariya, Javayata Diriya and Divi Diriya engage them for the purpose of gradual, continuous improvement.
The Tech City in Homagama is being constructed with the aim of preparing the country to victory in the fourth industrial revolution. 1,200 acres between Malabe and Homagama will be developed via four zones to create the Tech City. While the Technology Departments of the Universities of Sri Jayawardenapura, Colombo and Moratuwa are already under construction at these locations, the Arthur C. Clarke Institute, the National Science Foundation and a number of other state and private institutions are stakeholders in this effort. If Sri Lanka is to mobilise to compete in the world of modern technology, then it must utilise cutting edge and future tech as well as prepare its human capital to leverage those. Moving from the cheap-labour based apparel industry to a knowledge based innovation economy is the dream, aspiration, resolve and ultimate goal of Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and the Homagama Tech City will massively contribute in the future towards this technology revolution and economic stability. The fact that even a small amount of rain inundates the city of Colombo is an unhappy reality under which we have lived for decades. Instead of plating flowers on the surface while living with squalor and ugliness underneath that veneer, steps are being taken to completely free the city of floods. With the investment of Rs. 5,221 million, two underground storm water pipes are being built in the vicinity of Torrington and New Mutwal to quickly drain rain water into the sea. Additionally, the rain water pump station at Ambatale is being built at the cost of Rs. 2,870 million and it is anticipated that once the projects are completed both the city of Colombo and those living on the banks of the Kelani River will forever be safe from such watery disasters.
Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka worked within the environs of his Ministry to revolutionise the transport sector of the country resulting in a superbly planned public transport system. Creating four multimodal hubs such as the one already established at Kottawa-Makumbura, the modernisation of the bus service and the SAHASARA project networking and optimising fleet management, the establishment of the Western Province Light Rail Transit system connecting Ragama-Narahenpita, Moratuwa-Kelaniya and Pannipitiya-Hunupitiya as well as the Malabe-Colombo line launched on 3rd June with JICA assistance are all in the construction pipeline. The JICA component is 16 km in length and costs $ 1,700 million.
The Meethotamulla tragedy was the direct result of weak development concepts and actions of previous authorities. The dump which claimed 33 lives is today a park. The Ministry of Megapolis has already commenced a new chapter in solid waste management. It has already commenced projects to convert garbage into compost through the MihiJaya Initiative, 2 waste-to electricity projects and a program to make Colombo a garbage free city. The first phase of the sanitary landfill at Aruwakkalu which will ultimately be able to sequester 1,200 MT of waste per day has already been completed with an investment of $ 101 million.
The Port City which was being constructed leaving a legacy of environment and economic problems was realigned along rigorous and comprehensive indicators and guides converting it into a great boon to the country. While 269 hectares have been reclaimed from the sea, construction will begin in the near future in five designated zones. The Port City is being built with an investment of $ 15 billion with a host of modern amenities and technologies making it, once complete, the socioeconomic hub of South Asia.
The Strategic Cities project envisages the development of key cities across the island in line with a common national vision. In the first phase, Kandy, Galle, Anuradhapura and Jaffna will be developed while in phase II, Kurunegala, Ratnapura, Dambulla and Trincomalee will be similarly developed.
The development of Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte as the administrative capital of Sri Lanka is already begun. Accordingly, the largest office complex in Sri Lanka, a 25 story behemoth is currently under construction at Battaramulla with an investment of Rs. 15.6 billion.
Five development corridors have been identified covering the Colombo Port, Port City, Vihara Maha Devi Park, and Galle Face and the Beira Lake will also be developed in parallel. The USA is taking steps to relocated current slum dwellers in the Beira vicinity to provide them with a new and improved approach and foundation to life.
The Viyathpura middle income housing scheme aims to provide affordable housing to such beneficiaries who are currently working in government or private sector jobs. There are 2,700 such units already being built at 6 locations within the country.
While the UDA is implementing a comprehensive program to develop locations in all districts of the country in line with a solid urban development strategy, an effort that is of equal importance is being implemented by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation.
While vesting all of its development in the hands of the public, the Ministry and its agencies have not been a burden to either the citizens or the Treasury with all of its sub agencies and line agencies being converted into profit making operations by dint of a supreme effort on the part of their officials.
The ultimate goal of all of these efforts is to replace the adage “A country worth leaving” that has been on the lips of our people for decades into the adage “A country worth living in”!
Pix by Upul Abayasekara
