Laudable Economic Zone project

The remarkable triumph for the State in Thoppigala has generated very understandable spontaneous rejoicing among many a section but the Government is at pains to emphasise that it remains committed to its dual-pronged approach.

hat is, neutralising the Tigers militarily while making every effort to bring about a socio-economic rejuvenation in the liberated areas of the country.

There is no denying that there is no better way to go about resolving our conflict than by adopting this dual approach. Over the past few weeks we too have emphasised the importance of this two-pronged approach.

t just would not do to defeat the LTTE in battle only although such military debacles would convince the Tigers of the futility of depending on armed confrontation and terroristic acts. Equally important is the socio-economic reconstruction of the liberated regions.

Now that the whole of the East has been brought under the authority of the State, socio-economic reconstruction projects should get into top gear in the province, closely followed by local government and other relevant elections which would pave the way for the installation of a civilian administration in the province.

It is for these reasons that the news that an Economic Zone is to be established in the Eastern district of Trincomalee, needs to be warmly welcomed. Such a Zone would be instrumental in attracting foreign investment and prove an economic nerve centre with a high employment-generation capacity.

lready some 1,600 acres have been allocated for this purpose in Trincomalee and we hope more such Zones would dot the Eastern Province and help in fulfilling the basic needs of the populace, thus making the latter feel at home in Sri Lanka, and generate in the people an undying loyalty to the Lankan State.

We need hardly say that this would be an ideal recipe for the LTTE-generated separatist menace which has plunged this country into a 30-year conflict. Therefore, develop we must and in the most dynamic fashion.

It should not be forgotten that it is a lack of sufficient educational and employment opportunities which drove some sections of the North-East youth into the death-grip of the LTTE.

eparatism won more and more adherents on account of the short-sightedness and narrow thinking of most past administrations. They did not realise that nation-breaking is promoted also by lop-sided development which stifles the even distribution of the fruits of growth.

Accordingly, we hope the Economic Zone in Trincomalee would prove a trend-setter. The youth of the country, wherever they may be, need to have hope in a better tomorrow. They need to feel that they could find gainful employment in Sri Lanka and go on to bring-up families and make Sri Lanka their permanent home.

The LTTE thrived on the absence of these conditions in the North-East. We wish history would not be allowed to repeat itself. The authorities need to ensure that no region of this country remains an island, which is insulated from the development and democratic processes.