Await new look for 2008

~ Governor outlines development plans for Central Province

By Isuri Kaviratne

New development projects in the Central Province have been planned for 2008 and some of the projects have already got off the ground, Central Province Governor Tikiri Kobbekaduwa said. “Projects have been launched to develop Kadugannawa new town and construct the Pilimatalawa new shopping complex,” the governor said.

Changes are to take place in Peradeniya as well. The riverside shops in Peradeniya are to shift to the new shopping complex in Iriyagama and the construction of the Iriyagama highway too would be started, he said. “The Peradeniya riverside will be redesigned to provide an environmentally healthy recreational area for the people to enjoy,” Mr. Kobbekaduwa said.

The Kandy South water project would be completed next year with 70 per cent of the population in the area having pipe borne water. The sewerage system in Kandy too would be completed by next year, he said. “The majority of the residents were not so willing to participate in the sewerage project. People have forgotten their responsibilities to the country and only remember their rights”, he said.

Commenting on the shifting of Kandy administrative city to Pallekele, the governor said it was a decision taken for the betterment of the public. “The air in Kandy town which is polluted due to traffic and other causes, does not drift to the sea like in Colombo as Kandy is in a basin. So, the polluted air gets collected in the town”, he said adding that doctors say 90 per cent of the children in Kandy town suffer from breathing problems.

He said that when the administrative city is moved, the people would be able to move around Kandy heritage city freely. “Most of the health hazards the public face would be minimised if the shifting of the administrative city takes place successfully,” Mr. Kobbekaduwa said.