Reference the article in the Sunday Observer of 16th Dec. 2001, about the Mayor’s ambitious project to install a modern abattoir in the city of Colombo for cattle slaughter. Mr. Mayor, the need of the hour is not an abattoir but positive and result oriented projects for the following burning problems that the city of Colombo is faced with currently. A few important areas are:

i) To rectify the continued flooding of city roads and residential premises in many areas during heavy rains, which remains unsolved. This is so especially along Siri Dhamma Mawatha, Colombo 10 where I live.

ii) Regular and efficient maintenance of drainways within the city to minimize the curse of regular floods.

iii) Effective disposal and treatment of the garbage of the city of Colombo.

iv) Improvement of conditions under which the majority of slum dwellers of the city continue to live.

It is suggested that the aid from Netherlands be directed towards the above areas (to name a few) and not on an abattoir. It appears that Mr. Mayor has mixed up his priorities. So please stall this idea of an abattoir. Let me quote the heading of the article on this subject "TO HELL WITH YOUR ABATTOIR MR. MAYOR" by Prof. Mahinda Palihawadana in the Island of 4.1.2002 - what a factual and thought provoking article it was.
M. I. Gunewardene
Colombo 10