Colombo city to be upgraded

http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/09/23/news40.asp

Colombo city to be upgraded
Suraj.A.Bandara
Colombo city will be upgraded with all advanced city planning methods used in other developed countries without depriving any benefits enjoyed by the Colombo people, Constructions and Engineering Minister Wimal Weerawansa said.
He was addressing householders after an inspection tour of development projects that are being carried out in the Colombo district. These projects have been earmarked to revitalize the facilities provided to the Colombo residents in line with the ‘World Habitat Day’ held last week.
He said Sri Lanka will be revived with unprecedented development drives in accordance with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s long-term vision of a developed country. Every inch of the country will be developed. The Colombo city will be developed in parallel with these development initiatives, he said.
He said an in-depth analysis is underway to study the ways and means to empower the living standards of poor low income social groups who live in flats, shanties and temporary shelters in Colombo. Colombo will be a well planned developed city in which all segments will be equally satisfied, he said.
The ‘Nagamu Purawara’ program is designed to augment the infrastructure facilities of the Colombo city with the participation of residents, he added.
“The Government will carry out 170 development projects in Colombo at a cost of Rs.50 million. Toilets, drainages, roads, community halls, irrigation projects, canals and houses will be developed through this project,” the Minister said.
He said the maintenance will have to be done by the residents themselves and only guidelines will be provided by the officers of the National Housing Development Authority.
All development projects should be done with the help of the public. Their views also should be taken into consideration, the Minister said.
National Housing Development Authority Vice Chairman A.W.Dayananda, General Manager Lakwijaya Kalansuriya and Deputy GM Srimath Weerasingha also participated.