The residents of the historic village of Meemure, located in the Udadumbara Divisional Secretariat of the Kandy District, have collectively decided to send an official appeal letter to His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, highlighting the serious challenges they face due to poor road access and recurring natural disasters.
Meemure is home to around 450 families living in several small village divisions. The only main access road to the village, stretching approximately 34 kilometers from Hunnasgiriya, passes through environmentally sensitive forest areas, steep terrain, and mountainous regions. Due to heavy rainfall, strong winds, and frequent landslides, this road is often damaged and becomes unsafe for vehicle movement.
The situation worsened significantly following extreme weather conditions in November 2025, when severe rainfall associated with a cyclone caused unprecedented damage to the road. As a result, transportation to and from Meemure was completely disrupted, affecting daily life, emergency services, agriculture, and tourism. Although temporary restoration work has been carried out, the villagers fear that future disasters could cause even more severe damage.
In response, the people of Meemure have proposed an alternative access road connecting Meemure to the Theldeniya–Madugalle main road via Nandana Kumbura and Kivulewadiya, covering a distance of about 10 kilometers. According to the villagers, this proposed route is at a lower elevation, less vulnerable to landslides, and more suitable for long-term, stable transportation.
The community believes that constructing this alternative road would greatly benefit agriculture, allowing access to nearly 100 acres of cultivable land, improve the transportation of agricultural products to economic centers, and support the sustainable development of tourism centered around Meemure’s rich natural and cultural heritage.
Through this letter, the villagers respectfully request the President’s guidance and intervention to initiate necessary actions for the construction of the proposed alternative road, ensuring safety, economic stability, and a better quality of life for the people of Meemure.
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