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A picturesque natural port, the serenity of an unspoilt coast line, the sacred Koneshwaran kovil, freely roaming herds of deer and the horror and terror of the war. These are the random images which come to mind at the mention of the name Trincomalee. It is one of the most serene towns in the country, though the horror of unexpected terror attacks lies beneath its beauty. Bodering the sea in the east and the LTTE-controlled uncleared Wanni in the west, Trincomalee is the capital of the Eastern Province. It has another distinction - it is one among the two towns where the three major races live amicably in almost equal proportions. At the heart of the city is Koneshwaran, venerated by thousands of people from all religions. Not too far away are the virgin hot water wells of Kinniya, a miracle under the earth. One day when the war comes to an end, Trincomalee, one of the best natural ports in the world on the sea route linking the East and the West, will be a commercial nerve centre in the country. But for now this promising port hosts only a strategic Naval base. The war is the main obstacle to sustainable development in the region. Men and women in the isolated rural villages deep in the district live with the bitter memories of massacres and ethnic cleansing by the Tigers. The war has ravaged their lives and their villages. They need peace. Peace is imperative for them - they do believe peace will bring solutions to many of their problems. Contesting Parties Eelam People's Democratic Party, United National Party, Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhava, National Development Front, Tamil United Liberation Front, New Left Front, People's Alliance, Democratic United National Front, Muslim United Liberation Front, Liberal Party, Sri Lanka National Front, Sri Lanka Progressive Front, Sri Lanka Progressive Front, Sri Lanka Muslim Kachchi, Sihala Urumaya and Six Independent Groups. Registered Voters Seruvavila
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60,690 Extensive program to boost cultivation-M.K.D.S. Gunawardhana [PA] A Policeman turned politician Gunawardhana emphasises the necessity of developing this fertile district through an extensive program based on popularising gardening and cultivations by making it compulsory to cultivate the residents' lands. All existing vacancies in the Government sector institutions in the Eastern province should be filled by calling applications from qualified youth in the district to tackle unemployment, he says. The basic facilities needed for the Police Department and around 15,000 homeguards should be provided under a priority basis to maintain a better security system in the district for the people to live in peace. He says that the irrigation system now being handled by Farmer Organisations should be handed over to the Irrigation Department again for improvment and to encourage paddy cultivators to cultivate their lands. He promises to take legal action against all corrupt land officers who harass farmers by withholding the issuing of land deeds for their lands. Land disputes should be solved to enable farmers to look into their future positively. He proposes the setting up of indutries based on agricultural products, fruits and tiles to take advatage of resources. Born in Gampaha in 1947, he had his primary education at Ganepola Vidyalaya in Katana, Tavisamara Catholic Scool in Seeduwa, Raddoluwa Pannananda Vidyalya and Mabima Piriven in Gampaha. After obtaining training on agriculture from the Ambepussa Agricultural School he joined the Police Department as a Constable. He was promoted as Sub Inspector in 1974. He became the SLFP organiser for Seruvavila in 1981 and entered Parliament in 1989 representing Seruvavila seat. Plans for a Peace District-A.M Maharoof Mohamad [UNP] The UNP Trincomalee leader pledges to lead the district in the process of development coinciding with the social changes in the region. He plans to set up a peace district, expanding the boundary of the peace city - Trincomalee - to the entire district. In a bid to find solutions to unemployment, he promises to set up a free trade zone in the region. Identifying port development as the best way for rapid economic progress, he plans to expand the port. It will make the city the centre for shipping and trading. He also has plans to develop the Trincomalee airport. Claiming that geographical separation of the district by rivers has obstructed development, Maharoof plans to set up bridges to link them and promote business. The first two bridges will be set up in Kinniya and Thoppu, he says. Maharoof plans to develop the Trincomalee Base Hospital into a general hospital. He pledges to develop district hospitals into base hospitals and rural hospitals into district hospitals. He plans to start education development from the primary level. In a bid to address the shortage of teachers, he proposes to set up a teachers training college at China Bay. A University for the Trincomalee district is also planned, he says. He proposes to divert public transport between Colombo and Trincomalee via Kinniya. He also points to the need for popularising prawn cultivation and improving paddy cultivation through the rehabilitation of minor tanks. Peace - top priority-R. Sampanthan[TULF] The Tamil United Liberation Front General Secretary R. Sampathan says peace is the top priority for the region. One of the most senior Tamil politicians in the country, Sampathan had his political education under the famous Tamil moderate leader Chelvanayagam. The lawyer turned politician says that peace could bring a better tomorrow for the people of Triconmalee and also to the country at large. While highlighting the fact that the efforts of the moderate Tamil political forces which seriously engaged in political dialogue since independence ended in disarray, he justifies the decision of these moderate political parties to contest the forthcoming polls on a common platform in support of the Tamil militant force engaged in a 'freedom struggle.' Sampanthan who was born and bred in Trincomalee boycotted the House in 1983 and lost his Trincomalee seat when he protested against the sixth amendment and several other measures of the then Parliament. Development of education, fishing and basic infrastructure which are now being affected mainly by the war are also among his priority list. General Election Results - 10.10.2000 |
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Produced by Lake House |
