Eastern Province contributes 4% of GDP

Irangika Range

COLOMBO: The Eastern Province contributes four per cent to the GDP due to its boundless natural resources including copper, oil and mineral deposits and with the liberation of the area from the LTTE clutches the province would drive the national economy towards the development under the humanitarian mission of the Government, said Army Spokesman, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara at a seminar on Monday in Colombo.

He said the Eastern Province was the major Eelam dream of the LTTE due to these endless natural resources. The dream was shattered with the liberating of the Eastern province by the Government.

The seminar was organised by the Ministers’ Secretaries Association to educate the staff officers in the Public Service of the Western Province regarding the Government’s recent victories of the Eastern Province.

He said the Government is in the process to develop further the natural resources while opening gateways to the international markets of Korea, Japan and China.

The Eastern Province is a world famous site due to location of natural Harbour and beaches. The Prima Flour Factory and the Mitsu Cement Factory are located in the area which contribute largely to the national economy while providing large number of job opportunities for people in these ares.

The Eastern Province has the best geographical site for agriculture, fishing and the Tourism. It is one of the major paddy cultivating provinces while it has become the best site for the growing of kurakkan, maize and pea nuts.

There are 32 rivers and lakes including the Mahaweli river which nourish the cultivations. The Nilaweli and Pasikuda beaches are regarded as two of the best tourist destinations. The fishing industry is one of the biggest income earners and productivity has recorded 75,000Mts annually.

There are 31,900 fishermen living in 292 fishing villages in the East. He said that the Trincomalee harbour is a major income earner and the LTTE cadres used it for the smuggling in the past. The LTTE have destroyed the natural resources by cutting the forests. They utilised the forests to conduct the weapons training as well.

The LTTE has built a number of prisons in the Eastern area to jail innocent Tamil people for ransom. They have also cultivated cannabis and are involved in the moonshine business in the East.

They transport these products to the Southern part of the Country. But consuming liquor is prohibited among LTTE members. The LTTE used the Eastern province largely to train the child soldiers and to house suicide bombers.