President Ranil Wickremesinghe has outlined plans to develop Kandy into tourism and cultural zones centred around the various Buddhist monuments found in the area.
Providing details on the proposed plans, the President said efforts are underway to develop the Gadaladenyia Vihara, Lankatilaka Vihara, and Embekka Devalaya into a tourism zone, with infrastructure development initiatives in progress.
Stating that plans also include establishing a Buddhist cultural centre to attract a large number of tourists to the Kandy area, he said tourists visiting the historic Dalada Maligawa, Udawatta Kale, and Victoria Dam will often spend several days in the Kandy area.
The President further said that under the Greater Kandy Urban Development Plan, efforts are underway to transform the Bogambara Prison area into a hotel complex.
Additionally, plans include relocating the city’s administrative functions to Kundasale and establishing a technology zone in Digana to foster advanced technological development.
President Wickremesinghe revealed that discussions have been initiated to complete the Colombo-Mirigama section of the Kandy-Colombo Expressway with assistance from China, and the Kurunegala-Kandy section with assistance from Japan.
The President gave the details during his visit to the Asgiri Maha Viharaya in Kandy on Thursday (June 27).
During the visit, the President received blessings from the Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayake Thero, the Maha Nayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter. (Newswire)
