Four new national schools will be constructed in Kandy at a cost of Rs. 100 million for each at a cost of Rs. 400 million and a nutritious package worth Rs.2,000 for 10 months will be provided for pregnant women under the programme “National Programme for Uplifting Rural Economy”.
The Government initiated this programme to develop physical, infrastructure and human resource facilities.
The “Social Infrastructure Development Committee” discussed the issues and the solutions for the problems of the rural people in the Kandy District and the development programmes that need to be implemented.
The discussion was held at the Kandy Secretariat on Saturday (14).
Several matters were discussed at the Development Committee Meeting regarding the programmes to be implemented by the respective Ministries in the Kandy District.
The Walala A. Rathnayake sports school will be upgraded within the next year and 35 students will be identified through the Talent Identification Programmes from Grade 8 with boarding facilities provided to them at the school. Each selected student will be allocated Rs.10,000. These students will be motivated to compete at international level and arrangements have been made to install a 130-metre artificial running track at the school next year.
Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Namal Rajapaksa said that the Government and the Private Sector are prepared to invest Rs. one billion in various projects during the next five years for the development of the Walala A. Rathnayake Sports School.
It was proposed to formulate a National Teacher Transfer Policy as the teacher distribution is not satisfactory in the district.
It was also stated that steps will be taken to develop five selected schools in the out-of-town areas of the Kandy district to solve the problem of enrolling children in schools in Kandy.
Moreover it was stated that arrangements will be made to provide a pre-school and a daycare centre in each Divisional Secretariat Division in the Kandy District, including an outdoor children’s park.
All arrangements will be made to provide text books, uniforms and shoes to school children before December 25.
Furthermore, the Secretary to the Ministry of Health informed that steps will be taken to take over the estate hospitals and fill the vacancies for nurses in the Kandy District in April 2021.
The Teldeniya Hospital has been earmarked for treating COVID-19 patients. It has been decided to set up special treatment units at nearby hospitals for common ailments.
It was emphasized that PCR tests are currently being carried at the Kandy Hospital by two PCR machines and a new PCR machine will be received by next week.
Additionally, Steps will be taken to upgrade the Indigenous Medical Training Institute and recruit more students for this purpose.
The discussion also focused on various activities that are being carried out in the name of massage parlors. Any fake massage parlours operating in the name of Ayurveda will be raided in collaboration with the Security Forces and legal action will be taken.
The Development Committee was informed that the process of registering health centres will be carried out under a strict legal framework.
The Development Committee also discussed plans to collect and recycle plastic and polythene in the Central Province and to start and maintain a recycling programme.
Ministers and State Ministers Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Vidura Wickramanayake, Piyal Nishantha, Priyankara Jayaratne, Sisira Jayakody, Dilum Amunugama, Keheliya Rambukwella, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Wasantha Yapa Bandara, Udayana Kiridigoda, Gunathilake Rajapaksa were also present on the occasion.
District Secretary Chandana Tennakoon, Provincial Governor Lalith U. Gamage and a group of government officials were also present.