The weekly public fair of Hakmana with modern facilities will be declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on September 24, Media Minister, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said at a media conference held at the ‘Sanasa’ auditorium, Nupe in Matara. It was organised by the Ministry of Media and National Development.

Minister Yapa outlining the development projects undertaken by the government, said, Rs. 3,500 million had already been allocated for developing Hakmana as a model town with all the amenities needed including a modern bus stand, town hall and a water supply project which is nearing completion and scheduled to be opened before 2010.

Meanwhile, the Hakmana-Mulatiyana road had been developed at a cost of Rs. 33 million while major part of the work on Hakmana-Beliatta road had been completed. The Hakmana-Kamburupitiya road would also be repaired and developed while the land required to construct a building for accommodating all State departments and institutes in Hakmana modern town has been identified.

An additional expenditure of Rs. 1,400 million would be spent for modernising the Hakmana town. In the meantime, in addition, plans to develop Akuressa and Dikwella as satellite towns in Matara District were in progress and work on them would be undertaken shortly.