President reveals plans to develop Sri Lanka's tea capital Nuwara Eliya

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was touring Nuwara Eliya today revealed the government's plans to develop the tea capital of the country.
Addressing a public rally at the Nuwara Eliya Town Hall, President Rajapaksa said the government plans to set up a public employees training center and a domestic airport to boost tourism to the city.

He asked the city officials to find a suitable location to build an airstrip for domestic air services.

The President has pointed out that although the city is ruled by a UNP Mayor the government has spent a large sum of money to develop the city.

Nuwara Eliya Hospital was upgraded to the level of a national hospital and many highways and rural roads in the district have been carpeted, the President has noted.

He requested the public in the Nuwara Eliya district to support the government to accelerate development in the area.

During a meeting with a group of learned persons, political activists, businessmen and professionals at Nuwara Eliya yesterday, the President said the government aims to handover the highest returns from tourism industry to the rapidly developing Nuwara Eliya district.

While noting that living standards of people in the estates have gone up due to the expansion of the Nuwara Eliya hospital and the town development programme, the President added that a special programme is being implemented to eradicate malnutrition in the district and requested the cooperation of the people to further develop the Nuwara Eliya town.
Minister of Live Stock and Rural Community Development, Arumugam Thondaman, Private Transport Services Minister, C.B Ratnayake, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Muthu Sivalingam and Parliamentarian, P. Radhakrishnan participated in the discussion.
The President took a walking tour through the city this morning and inspected the damage caused by felling the large trees that adorned the town for timber. He issued orders to put an end to the long standing timber racket by a former mayor of the opposition party.

During is walk the President met a group of school boys and spent some time chatting with them. He also met the people of Nuwara Eliya and engaged in a cordial conversation.

President's Chief of staff, Gamini Senarath and Public Transport Minister, C.B. Ratnayake also participated on the occasion.