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Digamadulla has one unique distinction - it is one of the two Sri Lankan districts where the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims live almost in equal proportionate. Yet it maintains a significant degree of racial harmony, despite the abortive attempts for racial supremacy by the extremist elements of all sides. Fifty years ago, in this land bordering the sea and the forest, the first multi- purposes irrigation project - Gal Oya - was implemented. This massive irrigation scheme, which made thousands of acres of barren land harvestable, turned upside down and made this once uninhabited land colonised by the men and women who came from distant regions. Being a `bordering' area, the inhabitants of these unprotected villages have bitter memories of massacres, massacres of their loved ones by the Tamil Tiger terrorists. The recent attack on the village Gonagala has added more horrendous experiences to the atrocities that the LTTE has committed in these areas. The threat still exists. Problems of the district is not different from those of any other Sri Lankan district, but the ongoing war has added more. The district needs the attention it deserves. The grievances of the people of this agricultural district have to be addressed urgently. They need better markets for their crops, roads, water, public transport, schools, more jobs and further more security. Contesting parties: Number of voters Ampara - 126,660 Sammanturai - 59,474 Kalmunai 57,653Potuvil - 116,710 Total registered voters - 360,497 National Unity through development - Ferial Ashraff [PA] Ferial Ashraff pledges to work to fulfil the vision of her husband, late minister M.H.M. Ashraff. Claiming that no mega development project was carried out in the district since the Gal Oya irrigation scheme, Ferial Ashraff, a former pharmaceutical expert, promises to bring the district to a new era through a well- planned development program. She, pledges to distribute the benefits of development among the entire citizenry irrespective of ethnic differences. She promises to promote ethnic harmony through development and make Digamadulla `a model of national unity through development.' Ferial Ashraff entered politics after the death of her husband and soon was appointed to the post vacated by her husband Private sector cooperation - A.L.M. Athaullah [SLMC] Claiming that the SLMC has the support from 80 percent of Muslim population of the area, Athaullah promises to protect trust that the people have placed on the party. He pledges to provide a proper drainage system for the low land of the district which is vulnerable for flooding. Renovation of the broken roads is also a priority of his agenda. He promises to create income generating opportunities through the private sector participation in the economic activities. According to Athaullah garment industry has potential to create thousands of employment opportunities, while advance industries would create employment opportunities for the educated youth. Athaullah was a deputy minister of the former PA government, before he defected the ruling coalition with SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem. A boom to rural life - P. Dayaratne [UNP] UNP leader in the district P. Dayaratne who entered politics in 1977, promises to restart the production of the abandoned Higurana Sugar Factory. According to him it would secure the livelihood of 10,000 families, including 4500 farmers. Providing electricity to the rural communities is one of his priorities. He, the engineer turned politician, pledges to renovate desolate sub ways in the Gal Oya valley and upgrade the health care facilities. According to him the schools in the Sinhala majority area are being neglected during the past 7 years, and he pledges to provide urgent solutions for them under a future UNP Government. A senior minister of the former UNP regimes, Dayaratne promises to implement an efficient water management system to the Gal Oya tank and other irrigation systems and ensure farmers will take the maximum use of water resources. General Election Results
- 10.10.2000
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