|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 11 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
"In countries like Sri Lanka where rural development is considered an important component of the national economy, it is essential to adopt an approach to sustainable development through strengthening the mutually beneficial linkages between the village and the city. At a time the present government is adhering to this policy it is topical that the World Habitat Day this year is celebrated on the theme "Cities - Engines of Rural Development". These views were expressed by Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister Chandrasiri Gajadeera addressing the inaugural session of the World Habitat Day Conference - 2004 held at the auditorium of 'Savusiripaya', Colombo to mark the World Habitat Day. The first Monday in October every year has been named as World Habitat Day by the United Nations. This year's World Habitat Day was celebrated the world over under the theme "Citeis - Engines of Rural Development". In Sri Lanka too, the Ministry of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development conducted various programs throughout the island to mark this event. The Deputy Minister opened the School Arts Exhibition on World Habitat Day at which 200 Arts selected from the drawings submitted by about 4000 students from different parts of the country, including North and East, were displayed. Deputy Minister, Chandrasiri Gajadeera further said, "as in many other countries in the world, in Sri Lanka too the cities have been formed with the utilization of rural resources. As a result of this process, at later stage the cities and small townships have come into being. This linkage between villages and the cities have brought about reciprocate relationship which is beneficial to both. However in our country due to adequate resources not being channelled to rural sector, a number of villages are undeveloped. It is proven by the fact that while the cities are brightened with street lamps of various colours, the village poor are even deprived of kerosene bottle lamps. Further cities are being linked by super highways while the villages are longing for gravel by-ways. It is time the developing countries like Sri Lanka focus attention for rural development in order to minimize the impacts of informally increasing urban population. The present government has clearly understood the importance of implementing development strategies so as to promote the inter-dependence of villages and cities. Through this process urban markets would provide incentive for increased rural production while expending rural markets create increased demand for goods manufactured in urban areas. Only through promoting this inter-action, will it be possible to achieve the objective of this years's World Habitat Day. The present government while giving priority for development of human settlements in both rural and urban sectors has already launched a programme to cater to the shelter needs of 75,000 families in both sectors". Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunawardena, said "The UN-Habitat in its theme for World Habitat Day has underlined the participation expected from the city for development of the village. The Colombo Municipal Council and other Local Authorities are encountered with complex problems in the development of cities. Although endeavours are made to provide an appropriate market in the cities for agricultural produce in rural sector, due to the lack of proper management and transportation facilities a considerable amount goes in waste. On this World Habitat Day we have to stress the importance of efforts needed to resolve the problems common to both rural and urban sections." Dissa Weerapana. Consultant to United Nations Development Programme and UN-Habitat expressing his views said "During the last 18 years World Habitat Day has been celebrated under the guidance of UN-Habitat. Earlier the focus has been on the problems directly linked to the house and the family. At later stages this changed to include urbanization and its implications. In the theme for this year, the inter relations between both village and city have been duly recognized. This is crucial to Sri Lanka considering its social structure which constitutes a large number of villages." The Director of Rural Development Training and Research Organization, Ravindra Hewawitharana delivered the keynote address. The students, Lasuka Maduwanthi Atapattu of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya and M.L.M. Upmal of Pothuvil Central College who won the first places in Sinhala and Tamil medium respectively in the School Children's Essay and Arts Competitions addressed the gathering on the theme of the World Habitat Day. The prizes to winners in islandwide Essay and Arts Competitions were distributed by Deputy Minister, Chandrasiri Gajadeera and other invited guests. Acting Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Construction Industry, Eastern Province Education and Irrigation Development, S.R. Kanaganayagam made the welcome address and the vote of thanks was proposed by C.A. Wijeweera Director (Habitat) of the Housing Ministry. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
