President could solve ethnic issue - Minister Athaullah

Mohammed Naaliar

ANURADHAPURA: President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only leader who could solve the ethnic problem. He is making every possible effort to protect the people from terrorism, said Infrastructure Development Minister A. L. M. Athaullah.

The Minister was speaking at the opening of a housing scheme for those engaged in freshwater fishing in Huruluwewa under the Eluppukkanniya Diyawara Gammana project.

He said terrorism made an serious impact on the people in all over the country.

The scheme comprising 120 houses was built at a cost of Rs. 20 million.

The people in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts too bore the brunt of northern terrorism as evidenced by the brutal killing of hundreds of innocent civilians in Pangarana and Palliyagodella and the recent claymore attack on bus passengers at Kebithigollewa, he said.

The Minister said the foundation stone for this village was laid by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 'We completed the village within two months'. The North East merger adversely affected the Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese in the East, the Minister said.

"The residents of this area left their homes and took refugee in schools and public places after the Kebithigollewa claymore attack.

He said steps are being taken to develop infrastructure facilities throughout the country including the North and East.

We have set up an electricity scheme for Pangarana and Palliyagodella which came under LTTE terrorist attack, at a cost of Rs. 30 million, the Minister said.