Development should be more widespread: MMC members

While accepting the long awaited development projects in the area, the Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC) members said the development should not be centred only in Soysapura but should be more wide-spread.

Members of the Municipal Council said the development should be more widespread as there were bigger problems faced by the residents in the municipality.

UNP member, Javin Maththes said the government laid many foundation stones in the area but many were not constructed into buildings. “People in charge of projects are thanked before their work is completed and this more often than not, ensures that foundation stones that were laid are re-laid and the premises are declared open before construction of the buildings are completed,” he said.

Maththes pointed out that Soysapura was not the only area that needed to be developed. “The government can’t even give a solution for the garbage problem but they are trying to redevelop Moratuwa and concentrating everything in Soysapura,” he said.

Another UNP member, Thisara Mendis said they accepted the development of Soysapura and the surrounding areas, but reiterated that it should not be concentrated to Soysapura alone and should be spread across the municipality.

Several members pointed out that several issues within the municipality were yet to be taken care of and that resources should be allocated for the purpose.

JVP member, Nishantha Ferdinando said the unit in charge of maintaining street lamps and looking into other matters related to electricity was unavailable as they were in Anamaduwa, Puttalam while there were residents in Moratuwa complaining about the lack of electricity

and dilapidated condition of street lamps and other infrastructure facilitates.

“When we walk on the roads here we get a lot of complaints about broken street lamps and the lack of electricity. But the facilities that the people paid for here are being put to use in other parts of the country where elections are being held,” he said.

Ferdinando also pointed out that public toilets in the Daily Pola were yet to be repaired and it had become an issue to vendors and buyers in the area. “The place is filled with glass and bottles and it can’t be used by anyone, these are some of the issues that need to be resolved,” he said.

Meanwhile, UPFA member, Suresh Indika said the Rs. 350 million development project was developing not only the Soysapura Housing Scheme but also pre- schools, clinics and other infrastructure facilities in the area. “We are constructing buildings for all the unauthorised structures that were removed in the area and we are providing them with new premises,” he said.

The World Habitat Day was to be celebrated in Moratuwa, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to declare open the new buildings in the area and also redevelop housing schemes and other

facilities in the area.