Local companies can be given contracts to resolve water issues : President

COLOMBO (News1st): President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said the government would award contracts to local companies as projects vested with foreign companies are pending completion. "There are many projects given to foreign companies that are pending completion," the President during a rally in Padiyathalawa on Friday. He added that the government can award contracts to local companies to construct small scale tanks to resolve water-related issues in the country. "Using our funds, we can ask our companies to construct them. Rather than using funds belonging to foreign companies," the President said. President Rajapaksa pointed out that drinking water crisis is an issue faced by a majority in the Kandy District, and that the people are requesting for drinking water facilities. During the President's visit, residents of Padiyathalawa had requested an economic center to be established in the area to allow locals to sell their produce directly without middlemen. The President was also made aware of the drinking water crisis currently faced by the people in the Ampara District. A youth in the area had requested for technical degree courses that are limited to Colombo, to be conducted on a divisional level. President Rajapaksa met with members of the Sri Lanka Institute of Engineers in Colombo last evening.