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'Peace, key factor in country's development'

Hambantota special correspondent

Ambassador for Norway in Sri Lanka Hans Bratskar addressing a meeting at the Social Mobilization Foundation (SMF), Hambantota at the inauguration of a new training centre constructed at a cost of Rs. 5.8 million with the assistance of Norway on February 27 emphasised that economic and social development must go hand in hand for the future progress of Sri Lanka and ensuring permanent peace is the core issue for every segment of development in any country.

Social Mobilization Foundation, which has over 17,000 members, is one of the main organisations engaged in the poverty alleviation programs in the Hambantota district.

The Norwegian Government under its NORAD development assistance program, has been the main donor in the uplift of SMF programs in the Hambantota district. Ambassador Bratskar said "Norway's basic involvement with Sri Lanka is in the form of development assistance but it sees peace dividends would pave the way for a brighter future for the people of Sri Lanka."

A large number of countries want to assist Sri Lanka in the development activities and a number of larger companies are also waiting to invest in several large projects and businesses, but establishing peace is the most important to attract investors to the island, Ambassador Bratskar said.

He said, Norway has a very longstanding relationship with the Hambantota district and it had contributed on a larger scale for the socio-economic development of the people of the district for the last two decades or so.

Project Director, Southern Province Rural Economic Advancement Project (SPREAP) W. M. Leelasena, HDCC, Director General Azmi Thassim, Project - Director (SPREAP) Hambantota District P. S. Gajanayaka, Senior Advisor Norwegian Embassy C. Jayawardhana, General Manager SMF M. P. Gamage and several others also spoke.

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