At the discussion held at the Kandy District Secretariat, Ven. Udawatte Nanda Thera, Kandy District MP raising the issue said, the soldier obstructed the construction of the water tank meant to serve a large number of families in Aruppola sector. Water to the residents of the area was a long felt need, the thera said.

Kandy Mayor K. B. Aluwihare said, the land belonged to the Kandy Municipal Council. Attempts were made on several occasions to move the soldier to an alternate location but he did not cooperate saying that he was a ‘Rana Viruva’ (war hero).

The Mayor said, the soldier concerned had been serving in the army for some time and he was taking advantage of his being a ‘Rana Viruva’.

Kandy District Secretary, GA, Gotabhaya Jayaratne said, the soldier should be evacuated to another block of land.

Minister D. M. Jayaratne said the soldier should be persuaded to evacuate.

‘Rana Viruvas’ or any other should not be allowed to violate the law. The law is common to everyone," the minister added.

Kandy District MP (JVP) Navaratne Banda told the meeting that schools in the Wattegama zone were over-staffed but the adjoining zone, Panwila faced a severe shortage of teachers. This was an injustice caused to the students of Panwila, he said.

Dimuthu Bandara Abeykoon (JVP MP, Kandy District) said that 50 percent of the chickens issued to poultry farmers in Deltota by the Hadabima Authority under the Jathika Saviya, Gama Neguma Programmes, had died. A chicken cost the farmer Rs. 170, he said. Out of 1,500 chicken issued to the farmers as many as 800 have died. The farmers had to bear the loss, he said.

Minister Jayaratne said that the matter should be inquired into.

Central Provincial Council Member (UNP) Lakshman Wijesiri said lightning strikes in Kandy had increased in recent times and had become a threat to life. It should be investigated and remedial measures taken.

GA, Gotabhaya Jayaratne too said that instances of lightning in some locations in the Kandy district had increased.

MP, Dimuthu Bandara Abeykoon said that liquor bars were opened regardless of the Mathata Thitha programme. Three bars had been opened in Galagedara, he said.

GA, Gotabhaya Jayaratne disclosed that there were 43 liquor bars within a radius of one kilometre from the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Some of them were more than 20 years old.

The District Secretary said those liquor outlets should be shifted.

Central Provincial Council Member (UPFA) Ms. K. Jayawardana spoke against diverting waste water from the hotels at Deveni Rajasinghe Mawatha to the Mahaweli River.

The water from the Mahaweli was used for drinking purposes by the people down stream, she said.