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President emphasises on developing Nuwara Eliya while retaining its identity
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has directed officials to develop a formal plan aimed at maximizing the contribution of the Nuwara Eliya District, a major tourist city, to the Sri Lankan Government’s program to establish a stable economy within a four-year timeframe.
During a discussion held at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat this morning (10), the President has instructed officials to work on a formal plan to maximize the contribution of the Nuwara Eliya District.
A statement issued by the President’s Media Unit further says :
The discussion also included the unveiling of the Nuwara Eliya New Town Development Plan and the Nuwara Eliya Tourism Plan, which were attended by political authority and government officials from the Nuwara Eliya District.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who spoke at the occasion, highlighted that despite the belief of many that the country’s economy could not be rebuilt, the agreement reached by the International Monetary Fund and the Government, provides an opportunity for fresh hope on the country’s economy.
The President emphasized the importance of developing the Nuwara Eliya District as a striking city that can attract tourists throughout the year, targeting both local and foreign tourists.
The President stressed the importance of preparing the development plans while considering the needs of tourists. He explained that the plans should prioritize creating a pleasant environment for tourists to relax, rather than focusing on constructing large buildings.
He also pointed out that the absence of a formal system for rainwater drainage in Nuwara Eliya City is a longstanding issue, and he urged officials to implement an urgent program to address this problem. Additionally, he directed special attention to solving the problem of drinking water in the area.
Mr. Wickremesinghe further explained that buildings in the Nuwara Eliya City should be done according to a proper plan, rather than constructing buildings haphazardly. He emphasized that the city has suffered due to the construction of large buildings and that officials should consider whether to turn it into a bustling metropolis like New York or maintain its identity as Nuwara Eliya.
The President highlighted the likelihood of an increase in tourist arrivals to Nuwara Eliya with the completion of the Central Expressway and stressed the importance of developing facilities in accordance with a proper plan.
He also emphasized that no party or investor should be allowed to damage the resources of the Nuwara Eliya District, and that all development should be environmentally friendly and well-planned.
Furthermore, Mr. Wickremesinghe called for government officials and political authorities to work in a well-coordinated manner in these matters. He encouraged everyone to think beyond the traditional framework and align themselves with the new program needed by the country.
Following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, President Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed his intention to meet with all the secretaries of ministries, chairpersons of authorities and commissions, as well as heads of departments in order to obtain their contribution to realize the targeted 2025 development plan.
During the discussion, there was a widespread focus on developing the Nuwara Eliya District through sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
There was a detailed conversation regarding the development activities to be carried out in the city under the Nuwara Eliya City Development Plan, as well as the development of Nanu Oya as a sub-city.
Plans were also made to develop Nuwara Eliya as a green city by preserving forest conservation areas, and five suburbs were earmarked for development with Nuwara Eliya as the central hub. Additionally, the establishment of a university in Nuwara Eliya and the construction of a Ramayana Center were also discussed during the meeting.
The President issued instructions to modernize the Nanu-Oya Railway Station and establish a high-quality economic centre nearby. The aim is to enable farmers to pack their vegetables and transport them safely and conveniently to Colombo.
The development of the racecourse and the lake, improvement of parking facilities, and speedy implementation of a formal water management program in Nuwara Eliya were given special attention during the discussions.
In addition, a program to increase the income of local residents and improve their lives was discussed at length.
The event was attended by Minister Jeevan Thondaman, Nuwara Eliya District Members of Parliament S.B. Dissanayake, C.B. Ratnayake, V.S. Radhakrishnan and M. Rameswaran, President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake, Nuwara Eliya District Secretary Nandana Galabada, and other government officials.
News
St. Thomas’ Prep closed after portion of building collapses
The St. Thomas’ Preparatory School (STPS), located in Kollupitiya, Colombo has been closed down indefinitely after a portion of a school building had collapsed, just two days before the school was to be reopened after the New Year holidays.
According to internal reports, the collapse could have been tragic if it took place when the school was open.
In this backdrop, questions are being raised over the building standards of the school buildings of STPS, which functions as a private school under the supervision of the Ministry of Education.
Earlier this January, parents of students in Grade 6-8 have also raised safety concerns over the reconstruction of the Middle School classroom block which houses 25- students while construction activities are taking place. They have formally communicated their concerns with the current principal of the school – Fr. Nihal Fernando.
The Principal is yet to reply to the parents and ‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns that he had verbally informed parents that he hoped the Old Boys’ Association would respond to the matter since they are funding the construction activities.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that a number of issues have been raised with the Principal’s arbitrary approach over the matter.
It is revealed that the constructions have not been done by a recognized contractor and there had been no independent evaluation as requested by the parents.
Also, another wall in the school, deemed as unsafe, had also collapsed three months ago. This has also been concealed by the Principal.
In the meantime, it is reported that the Principal has not revealed the identity of the contractors as well financial details such as how much was spent on the project.
It is also said that the parents are not briefed on whether the assessments of its renovation were carried out by a recognized, licensed structural engineer or an engineering firm.
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