(UTV|COLOMBO) – President Maithripala Sirisena has instructed relevant authorities to stop immediately giving permission on fragmenting coconut lands in North Western Province.
Further, the President advised Provincial Council, Urban Council and the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) to make necessary procedures if there is any essential requirement for fragmenting coconut lands.
The President stated this during a special coordinating meeting held at Kurunegala Divisional Secretariat, on Wednesday (07).
President Sirisena mentioned that fragmenting coconut lands indiscriminately has raised issues such as price increase and environmental issues as well.
The progress of projects conducted in Kurunegala district regarding 443, 349 families living in 4,432 villages in 30 divisional secretariats, were discussed during this meeting, and these projects are designed to give benefits for the people living in this area.
The special attention was given for the 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 extend to be carpeted is 176 km. The President instructed the authorities to expedite those construction activities.
It was also discussed regarding the construction works of the road from Mirigama to Kurunegala of the second phase of the Central Highway Project.
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.
Another focus of special attention was on fulfilling the drinking water needs of 1,694,000 of people living in the Kurunegala District.
It was revealed that the ‘Visal Kurunegala’ Water Supply Project at its final stage and 65% of the construction works of the Galagedara Mawatagama Water Supply Project, covering the Mawatagama, Mallawapitiya Divisional Secretariats, have already been completed by now.
At present 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 President Sirisena to release the required amount of Rs.100 million in order to activate these water systems.
Thus the programme for reconstruction of reservoirs is being conducted simultaneously to this project and of the 2400 reservoirs in five provinces, 371 reservoirs are in Kurunegala district. President Sirisena also stressed the need to operate that programme successfully.
He inquired on the progress of the programmes conducted within the district from the officers regarding the national food production programme, National drugs prevention programme, National chronic kidney prevention programme and national programme on environmental conservation.
Special attention was given to the disaster management programme 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, Ravindra Samaraweera,State Minister T.B.Ekanayake,Deputy Minister Indika Bandaranayake, Ashoka Abeysighe, J.C.Alawathuwala, Tharanath Basnayake, Shantha Bandara, Governor of the North Central Province Amara Piyaseeli Ratnayake, Chief Minister Dharmasiri Dasanayake and other provincial ministers, District Secretary of Kurunegala Gamin Ilangaratne and other government officers were present in this event.
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