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Addalaichenai special correspondent P. T. Iqbal

The allocation of funds for the Ministry of Eastern Development and the Muslim Religious Affairs will be utilised for all communities irrespective of caste, race, religion and politics. And decisions have been taken by this ministry to develop the backward areas on priority basis, said Rauff Hakeem, the Minister of Ports Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs on Saturday. He was addressing the Addalaichenai Region Development Co-ordinating Committee meeting held at Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat under the patronage of U. L. A. Azees, the Divisional Secretary of Addalaichenai.

The Minister was speaking after visiting the development projects implemented by the Ministry of Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs in Addalaichenai regions. The Minister who was on special visit to this region on the request of S. L. Abdul Rasheed, the Ampara District Co-ordinator of the Eastern Development Ministry, viewed the Addalaichenai Konawatte Bridge and Addalaichenai An-noor Vidyalaya.

The Minister made a visit to the Konawatte Mosque, Addalaichenai Public Playground, East Ceylon Arabic College, Addalaichenai Peripheral Unit Hospital and Periya Kalappu Drainage scheme.

Minister also met the fishermen of Addalaichenai and assured them that immediate measures should be taken to sort out their problems and this matter would be brought to the notice of the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

Minister Rauff Hakeem said that by the end of this year, infrastructure facilities will be undertaken at the cost of Rs. 10 million in Addalaichenai region in spite of having prepared a proposal at the cost of Rs. 32 million by the Divisional Secretariat of Addalaichenai. All development projects will be implemented on priority basis. The Ministry has drawn a number of proposals and forwarded the SIHRN, NECORD and NEEIAP etc. A special scheme was drawn to set up new drainage system in the low-lying area of the coastal areas of the Ampara district. Rs. 1,750 million will be spent for this project and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has assured me to provide funds for this scheme by receiving from donor countries. He pointed out that after the UNF Government came into power, the Eastern province was affected thrice by floods consecutively.

Minister Hakeem said that the ministry has prepared a plan to put up the Sambukalappu and Periyakalappu Drainage in order to benefit the farmers of this region and already this matter was raised to the attention of the Minister of Water Management, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera.

The proposed Oluvil Harbour by late Minister, M. H. M. Ashraff will be implemented.

After the completion of this harbour project which will pave the way to enhance the economic condition of the Eastern and Uva provinces.

Hundreds of unemployed youth will get employment opportunities. Measures also have been taken to provide compensation for the affected people and the fishermen by this project. The recently visited World Bank team led by Peter Harald has recognised Addalaichenai region a attractive and peaceful area and accepted to develop this region. Member of Parliament, H. M. M. Harees, the Ampara District Government Agent, L. S. C. Sriwardene, the Private Secretary to Minister Rauff Hakeem, M. T. Hasan Ali, the Assistant Director of SIHRN, S. L. M. Faleel, Director of Planning, A. A. Bawa, Project Director of the Eastern Development Ministry, U. M. Wahid, all heads of the departments, in the Ampara district and the officials of the Eastern Development Ministry were also present.

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