(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – President Maithripala Sirisena says the Government has already implemented large number of mega projects for the development of the irrigation and agricultural sectors in the country. He added that the development work of the right bank of Maduru Oya which is another mega irrigation project will be implemented this year.
The President also stated that the renovation of 600 historical tanks in the districts of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala and Trincomalee will be implemented this year with assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The President was speaking at the ceremony to offer 10, 000 land deeds to the settlers of Mahaweli C and B Zones, held on Monday (15) at Vilayaya Maha Vidyalaya, Aralaganwila. The land deeds were presented under the program to offer 100,000 deeds to Mahaweli settlers in line with the Livelihood Development Program.
He said today the Government is giving the solution to the water issue of the Rajarata people through Moragahakanda Project which has been a long term demand of those people. “The people of Rajarata will not have to face a water problem again after filing the reservoir with water in the forthcoming Maha Season”, he said.
“Former Government spoke about a mega development by showing off about a development which was only for display. But the debt burden of that development has now become a critical problem when taking the country forward”, the President said.
He stated that the Government has implemented a comprehensive development program to take the country forward by freeing it from the debt burden. “We will bring that required economic development to the people by taking that program forward rapidly and strongly, facing any challenge”, he said.
The President said that some are dreaming to topple the Government by thinking that the present Government is weak. He also said that even though some people about forming a new Government after holding a May Day rally in the Galle Face, it is a joke to see these kinds of dreams by observing the supporters transported by buses to the Galle Face Grounds.
President Sirisena also said that he was informed that some people, who called masses to hoist black flags to protest when the Indian Premier arrived in Si Lanka, go and visited him in the midnight.
Under the programme to distribute 100,000 Mahaweli land title deeds, President Sirisena presented 10,000 title deeds to families in C and B Mahaweli Zones at the ceremony held at the Aranaganvila Vilayaya Maha Vidyalaya.
The distribution of necessary equipment for the Livelihood Opportunities Development Programme was also held during the event. Water purification systems and the water tanks were distributed for the use of schools and temples.
The Maha Sangha, other religious leaders, the Uva Provincial Governor M.P Jayasinghe, Minister Daya Gamage, Chief Minister of the North Central Province Peshala Jayarathne, Deputy Minister Sudarshani Fernandopulle, former Minister P.Dayarathne, Provincial Councillor Sampath Sri Nishshanka, Ministers and Parliamentarians, Director General of the Mahaweli Authority, public servants including Polonnaruwa District Secretary participated in this event.