Massive development drive in Moneragala

MONERAGALA: Rs. 100 million will be allocated for the improvement of irrigational schemes, power generation and providing of solar power to threaten villages so far not provided with electricity under the Jathika Saviya programme.

These facts were disclosed at the Moneragala District meeting of the Jathika Saviya accelerated development programme held at the Moneragala District Secretariat.

This programme implemented by the President's Office aims to uplift the living conditions of people in the threatened areas, said a President's Office release.

At the meeting it was decided to increase the number of homeguards deployed to provide security to threatened areas in the Moneragala District.

Rs. 42 million will also be allocated to provide electricity and telephone facilities to bunkers in the District.

Power generators to Siyambalanduwa Guard Post, and Kotiyagala Rural Hospital and few other vulnerable places will also be provided.

Establishment of four people's Relief Offices under the 'Jana Sahana' programme, Provision of noon meal to schoolchildren, and supplementary issue of books, uniforms and school kits to schoolchildren of threatened areas as a special measure, and four new school buses are among other relief the people of Moneragala District have obtained on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said Education Deputy Minister Nirmala Kothalawala at the meeting.

The participants visited Kenagallanda and Kahambana villages in the Moneragala District which are under the LTTE terrorist threats.

Uva Province Chief Minister Gamini Vijithamuni Soysa, Parliamentarians Sumedha G. Jayasena, Jagath Pushpakumara, Rishard Badiudeen, Amir Ali, Anvar Ismail, Mahinda Amaraweera, Gunaratne Weerakone, Nirmala Kothalawala, Rohana Kumara Dissanayaka, President's Senior Advisor and Jathika Saviya Task Committee Chairman Basil Rajapaksa, JVP MPs Chandrasena Wijesinghe and Padma Udayashantha Gunasekera, Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila, Acting Army Commander Nanda Mallawarachchi, IGP Chandra Fernando, Home Guards Force Commander Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera and Moneragala District Secretary J.B. Amarasekera participated.