President to develop Colombo under visionary plan

• Assures housing schemes for middle and low income families
• Special program to recycle waste, mitigate flood disasters

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said yesterday that the city of Colombo will be developed under a well-designed plan, while addressing the main issues faced by the people.

Lack of housing facilities, difficulty in garbage disposal, and flooding are some of the issues affecting the people in the Colombo District, and the development program will resolve these problems, President Rajapaksa explained, while touring the Colombo District in support of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidates contesting the forthcoming General Election.

Receiving deeds for housing units, receiving houses in place of shanties, and expansion and rehabilitation of the Kadawatha-Wellawatte canal as a solution to flood disasters were some of the requests made by the public at a meeting held near the Dehiwala Urban Council.

People gathered at the rallies in Moratuwa appealed to the President to put an end to the underworld activities and drug menace, which pose a grave danger in the lives of residents, as soon as possible.

At a rally in Maharagama, a proposal to set up a dedicated area for around 850 pavement hawkers in Pamunuwa was presented to President Rajapaksa. He recalled the plan drawn up by him when he was the Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development, which was stalled due to protests.

The public gathered at a meeting at the Homagama Urban Park requested the President to establish a clean administration, free of corruption. President Rajapaksa also paid attention to the shortages that exist in Homagama hospitals.

Addressing a gathering in Thalawathugoda, organised by former Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksha in the morning, the President stated that directives have been issued to Government institutes to procure furniture only from local manufacturers.

Responding to an issue raised by a group of furniture manufacturers from Moratuwa, President Rajapaksa said the aim is to promote local industries.

People suggested that the Government should not spend money on the maintenance of prison inmates, and should instead deploy them in income generation activities.

The President paid attention to several requests by the public, including the modernisation of hospitals in Nawagamuwa, Athurugiriya, and Thalangama.