'The road of a thousand miles begins with one step'

One year of Mahinda Chintana on Nov. 17:

Chandrani Marasinghe

COLOMBO: The people who realised that the Mahinda Chintana is a pragmatic programme which could direct this country towards set targets elected Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President of the Sri Lanka at the Presidential election held in 2005.

The Mahinda Chintana completes one year on November 17 this year. The speciality of Mahinda Chintana is that it is a pragmatic programme which can uplift man both physically and spiritually.

The victory at the Presidential election proved that the objective of a majority of the Sri Lankan populace is to build a new Sri Lanka which would ensure the rights of all communities and create an environment for the future generation to live in peace and dignity.

The Mahinda Chintana is a short, mid and long-term development program which will uplift the individual family, village, city and the whole country to national and international level. It brings to memory the famous saying 'Well begun is half done'.

It has launched a programme to end the liquor and drug menace and create a disciplined society. Smoking and drinking in public places has been banned. A Tobacco and Alcohol Authority has been set up to wean the children away from the smoking and drinking habit.

It has introduced a programme for the pregnant mothers by providing a free nutritious food basket for those who cannot afford it.

A separate ministry has also been set up to cater to children's welfare and the mid-day meal program for schoolchildren has already achieved its target within the very first year.

A total of 42,000 graduates have been provided with employment with one stroke of the pen. A 'Yovun Diriya' programme has been introduced to find employment for youth who have been left out. Laws and regulations have been passed to induce employers to pay the Budget relief allowance to their employees.

A strategy has been formulated to activate and strengthen the State and private sectors. A 'Lanka Putra' Bank service has been started to provide much needed credit with State intervention to small and medium scale entrepreneurs who found difficulty in obtaining bank loans for their enterprises.

The pension scheme was amended to ensure the welfare and dignity of pensioners. Samurdhi beneficiaries have been given added benefits including a 50 per cent increase in the Samurdhi allowance.

A housing scheme has been implemented to cater to the welfare of shanty dwellers and occupants of non-formal houses.

The 'Gama Neguma' programme is a major thrust of the Mahinda Chintana aimed at giving a new lease of life to villages. The restoration of the fertiliser subsidy is a major achievement. A guaranteed price has been offered for paddy. Steps have been taken to complete the 1,000 tanks program. A strategy has been devised to uplift the plantation sector including Tea, Rubber and Coconut cultivation.

A programme to encourage the sale and consumption of fresh milk has been launched to uplift the dairy farmers.

Fishermen have been granted many benefits, including a fuel subsidy to ensure maximum utilisation of ocean resources.

Steps have been taken to promote entrepreneurship to local and international level through the Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurship Authority and making them shareholders of the country's economy. A programme has been implemented to develop the handloom textile and handicraft industries.

Initial steps have been taken to create a sustainable and environmental friendly tourist industry. Several new hydro and thermal electricity schemes have been launched to meet the country's current and future demands for electricity.

A large number of new buses have been added to the CTB fleet to strengthen the public transport sector.

The Colombo South Port Development programme has been launched to improve facilities at the Colombo Port. The Hambantota Port is another major port development project launched by the Government under 'Mahinda Chintana'. A second International Airport is also planned under the 'Mahinda Chintana'. A 'Nena Sala' programme has been launched to take computer and Internet facilities to the villages.

All villages will receive common telephone facilities under the programme of setting up rural communication centres in each Divisional secretariat division. Initial steps have been taken to develop the State health sector in a quantitative and qualitative manner. Rural health services are also given an important boost.

Steps have been taken to provide all rural schools with water, electricity, telephone and other infrastructure facilities.

Facilities at Universities have been widened to increase the intake of students. The Mahapola Scholarship and University Student bursary have been increased by Rs. 500. The "Jaya Lanka" programme was introduced to rebuild houses destroyed in the tsunami with better infrastructure facilities. Apart from this national programme, a special programme has been launched targeting specific areas.

The 'Mahinda Chitnana' was introduced to overcome many challenges.

They were "To foster peace without dividing the nation", "Rebuild the national economy by catering to the daily needs of the people," "Create a disciplined and law-abiding society and rebuild virtues inherited by us" and "build a secure future for the child generation."

The discussion process has been launched to achieve lasting peace. Talks have also been started with parties to the clashes with set targets. Several rounds of talks have been held with all political parties and groups with the objective of achieving a natural consensus for a dignified peace.

The Government wants to achieve a lasting solution acceptable to all communities.

While searching for peace the Government has started a process to ensure the security of the country and its people from terrorist attacks and other forms of violence. 'Mahinda Chintana' is aimed to distribute benefits of economic development among people in every strata of society.

The economy has already shown an 8 percent growth rate according to Central bank statistics. Economic activities have widened opening up many new employment avenues according to these statistics agriculture, industry and service sectors have contributed to this growth.

All this has happened in the back-drop of escalating world oil prices, dropping Maha paddy harvest, fertiliser price increase, tsunami, local government elections, SA Games and allocation of funds for the welfare of people in insecure areas subjected to terrorism.

The Government has taken special steps to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on the masses.

Correct financial management had been the major contributing factor for this significant 8 percent growth in the economy which is a victory for the people. "The road of a thousand miles begins with one step", they say.