Developing the South

The Government’s proposed mega development drive to be undertaken in the South under the 10 year development plan of the Mahinda Chintana programme it is hoped would usher in a new dawn for the country’s rural sector and transform and integrate villages with the urban hub.

Coming parallel with the Eastern Awakening programme it will no doubt provide an impetus to the development and upgrading of hitherto neglected areas culminating in the overall transformation of the country’s rural landscape.

It goes without saying that a majority of the country’s rural population are still without basic facilities such as electricity and pure drinking water.

Certain outposts are completely cut off from the mainstream of activity which no doubt was the main contributory factor that fuelled two uprisings in the deep South. The Government no doubt has grasped the situation and is intent on redressing this anomaly.

According to our main story yesterday the Government has set apart Rs. 2,500 million for the uplift of 2,122 identified Grama Niladhari divisions in the South with the accent laid on upgrading of infrastructure and the introduction of livelihood projects.

The programme is expected to be completed before the end of the year bring the fruits of development to the village.

It is generally accepted that the country’s rural sector had been largely overlooked in the scheme of things under most regimes which gave rise to the famous chant of ‘Colombata kiri apita kekiri’ a state of affairs which was craftily exploited by certain elements to sow the seeds of discord and foment rebellion against the establishment.

It also helped certain political parties to carve out a constituency out of this disgruntled segments that eventually came in handy in the exercise of electoral bargaining.

True, mega development projects like the Mahaweli although sited in the hinterlands only went on to feed the cities and the metropolis which are the hub of commerce and industry while villagers were evicted from their lands to make way for these gigantic projects. They were mere on lookers, denied the bounty of development.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa with his rural roots it is expected would make greater strides in taking development to the cities to the villagers with added vigour.

This, while bringing the village, if not exactly on par with the cities, but equality in terms of city facilities, would ensure the rural folk are not left out of the development mainstream and make them stakeholders in the nation building process.

President Rajapaksa no doubt has all the credentials to ensure a success of this programme that would emancipate the villages while not destroying their character and traditional settings. What is required is a well planned out blueprint to usher in sustainable development to the villages while retaining their unspoilt character.

The problems confronting most countries which succumbed to rapid urbanisation should be taken as examples. As often underlined by the President village based resources should be made use of wherever possible in development work with accent also laid on local expertise and craftsmanship.

The President’s call sometime ago to Lankan professionals domiciled abroad to avail themselves of their expertise in the proposed development projects it is hoped would elicit a positive response particularly at a time of economic circumstances brought about by war expenditure and other foreign exchange drains.

The Government should also try and avert the exodus of skilled labour to other countries at a time it has embarked upon mammoth development projects. The recent news of a high demand for Sri Lankan builders and architects in Qatar is a case for pride but it is important that we balance our priorities for the betterment of the country.