President Ranil Wickremesinghe met Bishop of Kandy, the Most Rev. Dr. Valence Mendis at the latter’s House in Kandy on Saturday.
The president Ranil inquired about the Bishop’ well-being and engaged in a cordial discussion with him.
Special attention was devoted to the estate people’s difficulties, notably the housing issue.
Even after 200 years since the plantation workers arrived in Sri Lanka, they were still not guaranteed a decent standard of living.
The Bishop also briefed the President on some of the issues that have arisen in the Central Province’s education sector.
In accordance with the president’s instructions, senior adviser to the president on national security and chief of the presidential staff Sagala Ratnayake coordinated the Bishop and the Secretary of the Ministry of Education for some issues that were hard to find solutions.
In addition, the Bishop said the people are experiencing serious problems as a result of the dilapidated road system in the plantation areas, including Nuwara Eliya.
He requested the president to take appropriate action to develop the road system.
Fathers of the diocese, Minister Jeevan Thondaman, State Minister Dilum Amunugama, Sanath Nishantha, Central Province Governor Lalith. U. Gamage, former minister Ravi Karunanayake and other officials were present.
