The first phase of the Nagamu Puravara programme aimed at developing the infrastructure facilities and improvement of 354 tenement gardens and housing schemes based in and around Colombo City was launched in Colombo under President Mahinda Rajapaksa guidance yesterday (Feb.21).

This includes improvement of sanitary facilities and bathing wells, entry points, sewage and garbage disposal, drinking water facilities and power supply.

In addition, the proper clearance and maintenance of 42 kilo meters of roads around Colombo city, maintenance of housing flats and public utilities have also been envisaged in the programme under the Nagamu Puravara concept.

Speaking on the occasion, President Rajapaksa said 50 percent of Colombo city dwellers are still living in houses with inadequate facilities or tenement gardens and added that the Colombo city had become ugly because of the economic system and not entirely because of the lack of housing facilities. "We must change this system that makes the city ugly. We will soon provide facilities to all the 1492 tenement gardens”.

"We will also improve the facilities of housing flats and facilities such as electricity, bathing wells toilets etc. Moreover, recreational facilities and playgrounds too will be improved.

All ethnicities including Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live in these tenement gardens without any difference of caste or religion.
No one among them looks at the neighbour in a racial or communal manner. They are closely bound by one single human factor. This human factor is very strong among all of us, the President said. "Our aim is to transform this country to a unique and proud nation in Asia”.

"We have started this programme from the Colombo city and hope to expand this to other parts of the country as well. Therefore, please render all your assistance to make this effort a great success," the President said.