05 January 2010

Kicking off the urban development of Pallepola

Minister of Urban Development and Sacred area Development Dinesh Gunawardena handed over of the declaration required for the urban development of the Pallepola town in Matale district to the Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils Janaka Bandara Tennakoon in Parliament today (05 January 2009).

On this occasion Minister Dinesh Gunawardena declared the Pallepola urban area as a designated area of the Urban Development Authority under the provisions of the Urban Development Authority Act.

The construction of a multi-purpose centre, shopping complex, a weekly market (pola), a recreational park, a children’s park and a new police station, as well as the development of the main roads and branch roads are included in the proposed town centre development.

The Chairman of the Pallepola Pradeshiya Sabha Jagath Dissanayake, opposition leader AMVP Adhikari, Member of the Pradeshiya Sabha Narada Jayaratne, and the Director General of the UDA Prasanna Silva were also present on this occasion.

28 December 2009

Suduwella Community Water Supply Project declared open

Minister Hon Dinesh Gunawardena declares open the scheme. Minister of Housing Hon Geethanjana Gunawardena looks on

The Community Water Supply Scheme at Suduwella in Hanwella was declared open by the Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena on 24 December 2009. This project, which was implemented by the Community Water Supply Project and Sanitation Project of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development with community participation, has cost Rs 30 million and provides for 128 families.

A primary target of the Government is to provide every citizen with clean potable water. This is being achieved through the Community Water Supply and Sanitation Project of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development; which aims specifically to cater to the majority living in rural areas who face great problems obtaining drinking water and sanitary facilities.

Urban Development of Amparai inaugurated

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena approves the new Urban Development Plan for Amaparai. Also in the picture are Plan Implementation Minister P Dayaratne, Eastern Province Minister Wimalaweera Dissanaike, PC member TAK Thewarapperuma, Amparai UC Chairman Sarath Deshapriya, UC members, MEP Amparai organiser Sriyani Wijewickrema and WD Tissa Yapa of the UDA.
The Urban Development of Amparai, the capital of Digamadulla, which is being carried out by the Urban Development Authority of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development, was inaugurated on 26 December 2009 under the patronage of Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.

Also present on this occasion were Plan Implementation Minister P Dayaratne, Eastern Province Minister Wimalaweera Dissanaike, PC member TAK Thewarapperuma, Amparai UC Chairman Sarath Deshapriya, UC members, MEP Amparai organiser Sriyani Wijewickrema and WD Tissa Yapa of the UDA.
Minister Dinesh Gunawardena also opened the new premises for the Amparai weekly market (pola).
Minister Dinesh Gunawardena opens the new premises for the Amparai weekly market.

24 December 2009

Boralesgamuwa Urban Development

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena lighting the oil lamp at the commencement of the ceremony also in the picture are Ministers Bandula Gunawardena and Gamini Lokuge and Boralesgamuwa UC Chairman Aruna Priyashantha

Construction work on the proposed Boralesgamuwa Urban Council building commenced on 22.12.2009 with the patronage of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena. This is part of the Boralesgamuwa Urban Development Plan, which is being implemented by Urban Development Authority of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development and the Boralesgamuwa Urban Council.

The new Urban Council building is expected to cost Rs 140 million and will be include Banks, a communication locality, a reception hall, a library, a health centre and an ayurveda centre. In addition, a commercial centre, a shopping complex, a housing scheme, a sports complex, a large car park and a children's and recreational playground will be constructed under the new Boralesgamuwa Urban Development Plan.

On this occasion, the Boralesgamuwa Urban Council was connected to the internet.

Prof . Ven. Bellanwila Wimalaratana Thero, Ministers AHM Fowzie, Bandula Gunawardena and Gamini Lokuge and the Chairman of the Boralesgamuwa Urban Council Aruna Priyashantha spoke on this occasion.

A large gathering, including Western Provincial Councillors Sunil Jayamini, Gamini Silva and Gamini Tilakasiri, Colombo District SLFP organiser Chandana Kathriyarachchi, as well as secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dr P Ramanujam, Director General of the UDA Prasanna Silva and others graced this occasion.

04 December 2009

Vavuniya Urban Development Plan unveiled

Minister Dinesh Gunawardena signs the Vavuniya Urban Development Plan. Also in the picture are Ministry Secretary Dr P Ramanujam, Urban Development Minister Rohana Dissanayake and Vavuniya District Secretary Ms Charles.

The Vavuniya Urban Development Plan, which is to be implemented by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development, was revealed to the public at a ceremony held today (04 December 2009) at the Vavuniya District Secretary’s office under the patronage of Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development.

A sum of Rs 15,000 million is to be spent on the first stage of this plan, which is for an entire city complete with all necessary facilities. While the Mankulam area is to be developed as an administrative centre for the North, Vavuniya will remain a gateway to all the districts of the North.

Tamil National Alliance MP Shivanathan Kishore, Kishore Anandan, Urban Development Minister Rohana Dissanayake, Vavuniya District Secretary Ms Charles, Secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dr P Ramanujam, Vanni District Organiser of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Premaratne Sumathipala, officials of the UDA and representatives of Non-Government Organisations also participated on this occasion.

25 November 2009

New homes in Dematagoda for displaced shanty dwellers of Slave Island

Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena inspecting the new multi-storey housing complex. Ministry Secretary Dr Prathap Ramanujam and UDA Co-ordinating Officer Ajith Kumara are also in the picture

Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena inspected the new multi-storey housing complex constructed in Dematagoda in Colombo City to provide homes for displaced shanty dwellers from the Slave Island area on 24.11.2009. Many of the shanty-dwellers who are prospective home-owners in the complex were also present.



Under the first stage of this housing project it is planned to provide housing for the shanty-dwellers who were displaced by the Slave Island and Beira Lake development plans, and who have obtained temporary accommodation in Thotalanga under the auspices of the Urban Development Authority of the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development.



The area of a dwelling constructed on the 3.6 hectare (9 acre) site in Dematagoda is to be 50 square metres (500 sq.ft). Each consists of two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. A special programme to construct 1,000 dwellings has been inaugurated here by the Urban Development Authority. The construction of the 1,000 dwelling units is to take place in 3 stages, with 320 dwellings of the first stage being constructed at present, and are due to be handed over to the new owners in the near future.



A new technology is being utilised to construct the buildings in this project, and it is the first time that this technology has been used in the public sector. This technology, which is known as the MIVAN form work system, has been brought to this country from Malaysia.



The prospective home-owners expressed their gratitude to all those who worked to extract them from their unauthorised shanties and to provide them with these good permanent dwellings, for which they declared their liking.



Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, speaking on this occasion, said that the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development was able begin construction of this housing complex, which is another step towards making a reality the Mahinda Chintana goal of providing every family with a home. Thereby the people living in Thotalanga temporarily will be able to own permanent homes. We are now working to provide housing for the people according to a policy different from that of previous governments, according to which the opportunities for selling the new houses and going back to shanty dwellings will be minimised. It is the hope of the Government of President HE Mahinda Rajapaksa to provide new houses for the masses by completing this housing complex rapidly and to ensure a bright future for all the families.



Governor of the Western Province HE Alavi Moulana, Secretary of the Ministry Dr Prathap Ramanujam and UDA Co-ordinating Officer Ajith Kumara participated on this occasion.

23 November 2009

Acceleration of the Rs 350 million Independence Square Development Project

Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Dinesh Gunawardena inspecting the Independence Square Development Project area. Also in the picture are Dr Prathap Ramanujam, Secretary to the Ministry, Prasanna Silva, Director General of the Urban Development Authority and other officers.

The first and second stages have been completed of the Independence Square Development Project, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development. The expenditure Rs 90 million on so far has resulted in the construction of a new pedestrian footpath between the Independence Square building and the Planetarium and the reconstruction and development of the surrounding area.

This project is being carried out by the Urban Development Authority with the aim of enhancing the stature and protecting the nobility of the Independence Square building and establishing a green zone, comprised of trees and foliage surrounding it.

The Independence Square Development Project, which is planned to be carried out over 12 stages, is anticipated to cost a total of Rs 350 million. Consequently work has been accelerated on the third and fourth stages of this project, which are a proposed Cultural Avenue from Bauddhaloka Mawatha to the Independence Square Development area and work in connection with the Ceremonial Entrance to the Independence Square.

The Independence Square Development Project, the area of which is bounded by Gregory’s Road, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Maitland Crescent, Wijerama Mawatha and Prof Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, has been identified as an accelerated development area.