President calls for immediate halt in fragmentation of NWP coconut lands

President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed the relevant authorities to immediately stop giving permission for fragmenting of coconut lands in the North Western Province.

Further, the President advised the Provincial Council, Urban Council and the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) to formulate the necessary procedures in the event of any essential requirement to fragment coconut lands.

The President stated this during a special coordinating meeting held at Kurunegala Divisional Secretariat, on 7 March.

Sirisena mentioned that fragmenting coconut lands indiscriminately had resulted in price increases and environmental issues.

The progress of projects conducted in Kurunegala District in relation to 443,349 families living in 4,432 villages in 30 divisional secretariats were discussed during this meeting; these projects are designed to provide benefits to the people living in this area. 

Special attention was given to projects designed for educational, health, highways, agricultural, water, irrigation and other areas. The Government has already carpeted 660km of road out of the 836km of national road network in the Kurunegala District and the remaining road extent to be carpeted is 176 km. The President instructed the authorities to expedite the construction activities.

Construction works of the road from Mirigama to Kurunegala of the second phase of the Central Highway Project we also discussed. 

The progress of the Wayamba Ela Project, the Climate Change Mitigation Project, the Deduru Oya Reservoir Project and the development of Mahagalgamuwa Ela were also reviewed.

Special attention was paid to fulfilling the drinking water needs of 1,694,000 people living in the Kurunegala District.

It was revealed that the ‘Visal Kurunegala’ Water Supply Project was at its final stage and 65% of the construction works of the Galagedara Mawatagama Water Supply Project, covering the Mawatagama, Mallawapitiya Divisional Secretariats, had already been completed.

The implementation of the Polgahawela, Pothuhera and Alawwa integrated water supply project, Deduru Oya water supply project and the Anamaduwa Integrated Water Supply Project have already commenced.

The officials were instructed by the President to release the required amount of Rs. 100 million in order to activate these water systems.

The program for reconstruction of reservoirs is being conducted simultaneously to this project and of the 2,400 reservoirs in five provinces, 371 reservoirs are in Kurunegala District. Sirisena also stressed on the need to operate that program successfully.

He inquired on the progress of the programs conducted within the district from the officers regarding the National Food Production Program, National Drugs Prevention Program, National Chronic Kidney Prevention Program and National Program on Environmental Conservation.

Special attention was given to the Disaster Management Program conducted on behalf of the affected public due to the main climatic issues prevailing within the district and other issues such as wild elephant rampages.

Ministers Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, S.B. Navinna,Gamini Jayawickrama Perera,  Akil Viraj Kariyawasam, Rauff Hakeem, Duminda Dissanayake, Vijith Vijithamuni Soyza and Ravindra Samaraweera, State Minister T.B. Ekanayake, Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake, Ashoka Abeysighe, J.C. Alawathuwala, Tharanath Basnayake, Shantha Bandara, North Central Province Governor Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake, Chief Minister Dharmasiri Dasanayake and other provincial ministers, District Secretary of Kurunegala Gamin Ilangaratne and other Government officers were also present.