At a special meeting held yesterday (March 14) under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena to review the development of the Polonnaruwa district, the progress of the development projects implemented in 2015 and the projects to be implemented in the 2016 in the district were discussed in detail.
During the Special Coordination Committee Meeting of the Polonnaruwa district held at the Teachers Training College Polonnaruwa President Sirisena has discussed building an international cricket stadium in the Polonnaruwa district and the modernization of the domestic airport at Hingurakgoda.
The President has also instructed the relevant officials to build bus stands at Polonnaruwa, Hingurakgoda and Welikanda and regarding further steps which can be taken to develop the transport facilities in the district.
During the meeting, the President instructed the officials to increase the paddy storage facilities across the country to purchase the paddy from next season onwards without any delay.
He asked the officials to submit a report on issues related to paddy storage facilities in the Polonnaruwa district as soon as possible and advised them to as a minimum measure to build temporary warehouses to purchase paddy from the next season without any hindrance.
Expressing his views regarding the allegations made by some section of the society against the Government on transportation of sand and stones, he said that the Government has not terminated issuing licenses and what has happened is the strengthening of the laws under the new circular.
The President emphasized that the responsibility of the officials is to utilize the funds allocated by the Government for the development projects productively without re-sending it.
He also assured to take steps within the next three years to provide solutions for the drinking water issue in the district.
During the meeting, the President inquired in detail into the progress of the projects implemented last year. In the year 2015, 114 education projects, two health projects, twelve farming assistance projects, eight Mahaweli projects, one forest conservation project, two religious projects and eleven common facilities have been implemented in the Polonnaruwa district.
Expressing his views regarding the fertilizer subsidy even though some protested to supplying fertilizer at a cost of Rs.350, under the new government's initiatives fertilizer will be given to the farmers free of charge.
Even though some incidents occurred due to lack of awareness and some political needs it is important to make awareness among the people regarding the steps taken by the Government, the President pointed out.
President Sirisena instructed the officials of the Ministry of Education to look into the shortages prevailing in the district and to take swift actions to those issues.
Political Representatives including, Ministers Rauff Hakeem, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Dayasiri Jayasekara, P. Harrison, Chief Minister of the North Central Provincial Council, Peshala Jayaratne, Deputy Minister Arundika Fernando, MPs Siripala Gamlath and Sidney Jayaratne, Secretary to the President P.B. Abeykoon, Secretaries to the Ministries, including Defense and Finance and public servants participated in the meeting.
