180 projects worth Rs.60b to be vested with public

As many as 180 development projects which have been completed under the ‘Pibidemu Polonnaruwa’ (Awakening of Polonnaruwa) District Development Program will be declared open in Polonnaruwa this week by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the President’s Office said.

The development initiatives to be implemented under the ‘Pibidemu Polonnaruwa’ District Development Programme, which were allocated Rs. 60 billion,commenced in 2015. This is the largest amount allocated for the development of the Polonnaruwa District. At present many development projects have been completed and vested with the public through this program, and within the next three days another 180 projects are to beopened, the statement by the President’s Office said.  Accordingly, infrastructure facilities of 85 schools with the construction of classroom buildings, resource centers, technical advisory units, principals and teachers’ quarters and multipurpose buildings will be vested with the public. These 110 projects belonging to the schools sector were completed at a cost of Rs. 665 million.

Fifteen projects completed at a cost of Rs. 890 million under this program with the aim of creating healthy citizens will also be unveiled. 

Accordingly, a newly-built clinic for kidney patients at the Higurakgoda District Hospital, Dental Surgery Unit, administrative building and kidney patient clinic building at Bakamuna hospital, a building constructed for the use of OPD and clinical activities at the Manampitiya Hospital, a new ward at the Manampitiya Ayurveda Hospital and a new laboratory at Aranaganwilaalong with the offices of medical officers at several hospitals in the district willbe opened. Under this program water supply projects have been completed in three areas including the UnagalaVehera and Pudur area and another 15 housing projects constructed for the benefit of underprivileged people in the Higurakgoda and Tamankaduwa areas and new houses built for the benefit of public servants were also completed.

Fifteen housing projects built for low-income families in Hikurakgoda and Thamankaduwaat a cost of Rs.19.1 million and three water supply projects in the UnagalaVeheraPudur area as well as new houses built for government officers were also completed under this project.

Construction workon nine projects was completed, developing common facilities for the people in the district as well as for the ease of the people coming from other areas while focusing on the people of the Polonnaruwa District. The new bus stop of Madirigiriya, the two-floor housing complex of Hikurakgoda and the cinema hall built in Lankapurawhich seats 800 were also included in these development projects.  In addition, the amount spent to build the new urban council hall in Polonnaruwa, LakshyauyanaCommunity Hall, HelaBojun Halain Manampitiyawas Rs.343 million. The amount spent on the 15 projects completed for the development of the Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim shrines is Rs.55 million. Under that, a new residence for sangha, halls for religious preaching, residence for Bhikkus and halls for almsgiving are scheduled to be completed as fundamental needsfor places of religious worship. Renovation of Hindu and Muslim shrines and the construction of a new building are also scheduled under this program.

Thus a city with new technology, irrigational facilities enabling the farmers to cultivate during both the Yala and Maha seasons, a museum, auditoriums for drama and music andsports stadiums are now being launched.