Galle Mayor Methsiri de Silva said that The Netherlands had donated valuable heavy equipment and vehicles to Sri Lanka following the friendship developed between Galle and the Dutch city of Velsen.

He said that amongst the machinery gifted in October 2009 to the Galle Municipality were an excavator worth 4.8 million rupees, three tractors, three heavy vehicles, a specialized vehicle used to fix street lamps worth Rs. 7 million and four fumigation machines valued at four million rupees.

The Mayor was speaking at the conclusion of the 2010 budget debate of the Galle Municipal Council recently. The budget was subsequently passed with a majority of eight votes.

Eight PA members, including the Mayor, who were present in the House at the time, voted in favour while two members, opposition leader (UNP) Jelith Nishantha and the JVP councilor opposed it. Three members were absent.

The council will meet in session again at 2.30 pm on January 20, 2010.