Rasika SOMARATHNA
*Political institutions resurrected
*Appreciates contribution by int’l community
Despite challenges, the government has been able to achieve impressive and sustained progress in developing the former conflict-torn North, both socially and economically, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris told the diplomatic community.
“Most impressive here is the pace of development carried out during the short span of two and a half years since the Lankan conflict ended,” he said while giving a detailed report on the progress of development work in the area.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Colombo recently, the minister said that the government had also been able to establish civil administration and resurrect political institutions in the area which were dormant for the major part of the last 30 years due to acts of terrorism.
He said that this exercise would be completed with the holding of Provincial Council elections in the North, most probably early next year.
Prof Peiris noted that the government appreciates the contribution made by the international community and other organizations in various development initiatives.
According to the report given to diplomats, compiled by the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development, and Security in the Northern Province, 420,888 people have been resettled in the area, since the end of conflict. No welfare centres in other districts remain other than two in Manic farm.
The remaining IDPs in Manic farm too are to be resettled shortly.
Some of the other highlights regarding development in the area are, the repairs to over 24,500 houses or newly built ones. The government with the assistance of other organizations plans to build 73,044 houses in the area.
”With government assistance farmers have been able to cultivate 75 percent of the paddy lands which were abandoned in the north due to the conflict. In the last two and a half years, farmers have cultivated 136,000 acres out of 180,000 acres which remained abandoned when the conflict ended,” he said.
Among the most impressive progress made have been witnessed in the health and education sectors. The government has spent over Rs. 2.6 billion to repair hospitals, build new ones and provide equipment and drugs. Almost all the major hospitals and small and medium scale medical centres have been repaired. New ones have been built at identified locations.
In the north, out of 1020 schools, 900 are functioning. However arrangements have been made for students in schools that are not functioning to follow classes in alternate locations. As of 2010, over 220,000 were studying in schools with nearly 14,000 teachers to assist them. The government has invested over Rs. 1.2 billion in the education sector so far.
Prof. Peiris told diplomats that the government was the one which has invested the most on road development in post independence Sri Lanka. In the north too, the government has invested nearly US $ 490 million to construct 512 Kms of major roads.
”In the rehabilitation of northern railways, the government has invested US $ 652.4 million to construct 252 kms of rail roads. On the rehabilitation of reservoirs and large and medium scale irrigation schemes the government has invested nearly Rs. 01 billion to supplement over 100 schemes,” the minister said.
Impressive growth rates too have been recorded in food crops cultivation and livestock development.
In the black gram cultivation a 115 percent increase has been recorded, followed by green gram (70 percent increase), ground nut (84 percent increase), red onion (69 percent increase) and cow pea (47 percent increase).
In the livestock sector 40 per cent of the annual requirement needed is produced within the province at present. According to predictions, the province is slated to achieve self-sufficiency in livestock production within the next few years.
Some of the major projects in the north are rehabilitation of KKS harbour, rehabilitation of Palali airport runway, reconstruction of major bridges such as sangupiddy, Mannar etc and the construction of Kokavil transmission tower, the minister said.
Source: Daily News (30 August 2011)
