commence the Kumbukkan Oya project, which was first proposed in 1952, but remains unimplemented so far and complete expeditiously. It was decided to implement the Weheragala Wewa Project and the Sevanagala water purification facility properly to meet the drinking water needs of the people. The President stressed the urgent need to identify the natural water sources in the area and to use them in order to meet the drinking water needs. Steps were also taken to supply drinking water to many villages including Aluthwewa through an RO Plant and piped water.
The President instructed the officials to fast-track the restoration of 10 tanks including the Kukulkatuwa tank, as requested by the people for their cultivation purposes.
At the request of the villagers, the Health Secretary agreed to establish a Paediatric and Maternity clinic at the Hambegamuwa Hospital. In addition, President Rajapaksa instructed that a psychiatrist’s clinic should be conducted to cover the Thanamalwila and Moneragala areas at least once a month.
Attention was also drawn to address the shortage of doctors and nurses at the Hambegamuwa Regional Hospital, Moneragala, Thanamalwila and Wellawaya Hospitals and to develop other infrastructure facilities.
It was also decided to renovate all the elephant fences in the district which were built a few years ago and left unattended. The President directed the officials to conduct a rapid field study on the unauthorized constructions in the Bodagama tank reserve and to take further measures not to allow any unauthorized constructions in any of the tank reserves.
President Rajapaksa instructed the officials to immediately look into the use of substandard weedicides in agriculture and stressed that the law should be strictly enforced against businessmen who sell such inferior material
February 2021
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