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President emphasises on developing Nuwara Eliya while retaining its identity

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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.

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EU GSP+ monitoring mission to visit SL from April 28

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A monitoring mission from the European Union (EU) will visit Sri Lanka from April 28 to May 7, 2025, to assess the country’s progress in meeting the conditions required for continued access to GSP+ trade preferences. This visit is part of the EU’s regular biannual review process.

During the mission, EU representatives will engage with government officials, institutions, politicians, civil society, trade unions, and business associations, and will also conduct site visits across the country.

Sri Lanka is one of eight low- or lower-middle income countries benefiting from the GSP+ scheme, a special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance. Eligibility requires the ratification and effective implementation of 27 international conventions related to human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, climate change, and good governance.

The EU, comprising 27 member states with a population of 450 million, is Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market. In 2024, Sri Lanka exported goods worth €2.7 billion to the EU, with 85% of these exports enjoying duty-free access under GSP+.

(News 1st)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News 1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Funeral of Pope Francis, today

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Dozens of world leaders and thousands of mourners are gathering for the funeral of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday aged 88.

The service will begin at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST) in front of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

More than 250,000 people came to pay their respects to the late pontiff over the three days he was lying in state, the Vatican says.

Preparations have begun for the conclave, the process by which cardinals will elect the next Pope.

In Sri Lanka, the government has declared today a national day of mourning in honour of the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism – Vijitha Herath will represent the Government of Sri Lanka at the funeral.

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Young businessman injured in Katunayaka shooting

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A 29-year-old businessman from the Heenatiya area in Katunayaka was injured in a shooting incident this morning, Katunayake Police said.

According to police, the incident occurred around 5:35 a.m. when two individuals arrived at his residence armed with T-56 type firearms and opened fire.
The businessman, who is involved in money lending and operates several businesses, was asleep in a room with his father at the time of the attack.

The two gunmen, who came on a motorcycle, fired at the businessman. Police reported that two shots were directed at him.

He was initially admitted to the Minuwangoda Base Hospital for treatment and later transferred to the Minuwangoda District Hospital for further medical care.

Police recovered two empty cartridges from the room where the shooting took place.

Investigations are being carried out on the instructions of Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Negombo Division, Dharmasena, and under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police for the Katunayake area, Lal Chandrasiri. Chief Inspector Dinesh Kumarasinghe, Officer-in-Charge of the Katunayake Police, along with OIC of the Criminal Investigation Division Daham Marasinghe and other officers, are continuing inquiries into the incident.

(dailymirror.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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