Infrastructure development projects in Himbiliyakada, Wilgamuwa in the Matale district has commenced, the President’s Media Division said in a news release yesterday.

During his visit to the Matale district on October 2, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed officials to execute development projects expeditiously giving priority to the essential constructions and provision of service facilities.

The purpose of the visit was to talk to the rural people about their long-standing unresolved issues, present them to officials and provide solutions.

President Rajapaksa participating the second ‘Conversation with the Village’ programme, met with a large number of villagers from Gemburu Oya, Lediyangala, Aliyawala, Weheragala, Himbiliyakada and several other nearby villages and listened to their grievances.

Villagers told the President of their problems relating to land rights, drinking and irrigation water supply, dairy farming and kidney disease. Measures have already been taken to resolve a long-standing problem of the land deed issue in Hettipola town. Plans are afoot to hand over 110 deeds for lands utilized by villagers in Himbiliyakada.

Construction of a new classroom building and teachers’ quarters and rehabilitation of the playground in Himbiliyakada Primary School are being carried out with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army.

The Sri Lanka Navy is currently installing a water purification machine at Nagawanaaraama Vihara in Himbiliyaakada to supply clean drinking water.

The Army is planning to rehabilitate the Waththegedara and Dodamgolla tanks which supply water to around 2,000 acres of paddy lands.

The construction of 10 cultivation wells have been started after identifying water sources.

Developing the 2.8 km stretch from Weheragala to Hettipola town and the road from Himbiliyakada tank bund to Himbiliyakada village is being planned. A passenger bus has been added to ply on the Hettipola – Himbiliyakada road.

The President has directed relevant authorities to complete all these development projects within three months and vest them with the public.