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Development projects to minimise regional defects -Rauff Hakeem

by Trincomalee correspondent

Development projects have been proposed to harness and stimulate growth to minimize the regional shortcomings which is considered the main cause for tension between communities, said Minister of Port Development and Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Rauff Hakeem addressing a conference held at the Trincomalee district secretariat.

He said by harnessing the potential of Trincomalee district to increase the regional development it can contribute to the national economy.

The Minister said it is a difficult task to reconstruct the war ravaged eastern province without foreign participation. Massive rehabilitation and reconstruction projects have to get under way. If the government and LTTE achieve a peace solution through the MoU now in force, we could expect foreign financial assistance. Several regional committees are to be set up coordinating both the government sector and funding agencies, the Ministry of Eastern Development has done substantial work in this regard.

He said Regional Resettlement Committees will take over the functions of the Urban Development Authority. Acute poverty prevails in Trincomalee district. We should focus our attention to increase the growth of the local economy. Milk production has gone down, fish production too has gone down. More than 20,000 additional acres of land could be brought under paddy cultivation. We can alleviate poverty through proper redistribution of the resources.

Minister Hakeem said the province is experiencing a shortage of experts and qualified and trained cadres. We can enhance all sectors if the powers of the Urban Development Authority are devolved. Foreign funding that comes go unutilized due to lack of trained human resources. Regional and district level committees to develop the Eastern Province are to be established shortly.

Minister Hakeem handed over a cheque for Rs. 3.5 m to the Government Agent to be spent on the resettlement of 500 internally displaced families in the village of Thiriyai. GA and District Secretary N. P. K. Nelumdeniya welcomes the guests and Project Director T. Puhendran tabled statistics about refugees and damaged houses.

Trincomalee district MP MKADS Gunawardhana (PA) wanted a bridge erected at the Kinniya lagoon to facilitate traffic between Trincomalee and Kinniya. He said this project may cost Rs.500 m but will benefit the large population of people in Kinniya. Mr. Gunawardhana wanted this project to be given top priority.

The two SLMC Members of Parliament K. M. Thawfeek and M. S. Thowfeek, Ministry Secretary S. Disanayake and UNP Organiser for Seruwila and Trincomalee Sunil Santha Ranaweera and Ranjani Senasinghe were also present.

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