Eastern revival precursor to Northern liberation

President stresses at Arugam Bay bridge opening:

Rohan MATHES reporting from Pottuvil

President Mahinda Rajapaksa urged the international community to understand the reality and the motive of the Government’s humanitarian operations to liberate the North, in cognisance of the ‘Eastern Renaissance’ enjoyed by the Eastern polity now.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 185 metre, double-spanned Arugam Bay bridge which now links Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Ulla in the Eastern Province, President Rajapaksa stated that he too shared the happiness enjoyed now by the men, women and children in the Eastern Province, within a short period of only 30 months.

“An area which was abandoned and badly neglected for decades, has now experienced a ‘renaissance’. We have held an election to enable the Eastern polity to exercise their free franchise and elect their own representatives for their Local Government institutions.

Bridges, roads and other infrastructural facilities are being constructed. The civilians could now get on with their normal work at ease sans any limitations or hindrance,” he said.

President Rajapaksa categorically pointed out that the humanitarian operations had been carried out solely to free the men, women and children of the East from the bondage and the atrocities of the terrorists. It was now evident beyond any possible doubt that the decisions taken by the Government were justifiable and right.

“The Bridge is a symbol of Eastern prosperity. It renews and rekindles the hearts and minds of the people with hope and novel aspirations. It would undoubtedly bring about racial harmony within the three regions, to be entwined as a single unit. Arugam Bay will regain its pristine glory as a major tourist destination and a Bird’s Paradise”, he said.

The President pointed out that the importance of the Arugam Bay Bridge will reflect not only a nexus joining the regions, but also a link to the international community as well.

“We cannot obtain assistance from the international community and develop our country without being together as one country. This bridge opened today, is a pathway for it.

However, we need to eradicate terrorism in all its manifestations. That is our priority.

Nevertheless, we also need a political solution to the ethnic conflict”, he added. President Rajapaksa was also of the view that there had not been a communal conflict, but a dispute resulting in an anomaly in the distribution of the country’s resources in an equitable manner.

“The country’s resources should be distributed equitably in the entire land and not centralized in Colombo only,” he said.

The President also urged all concerned, particularly the international community, to be aware and vigilant of diverse conspiracies originating from various quarters with vested interests, to tarnish the good image of the Government.

Highways Minister T.B. Ekanayake, Water Supply and Drainage Minister A.L.M. Athaulla, Housing Minister Ferial Ashraff, Chief Minister of the Eastern Province Sivanesan Chandrakanthan, Highways Ministry Secretary S. Amarasekera, US Charge De Affairs James Moore also addressed the ceremony.

The USAID funded Arugam Bay Bridge envisages to provide a major transportation link along the Southeast Sri Lanka coastline for local residents, businesses and tourism. The total project length is 780 meters along the Pottuvil/ Panama road.

Around 5,000 people and 1,400 vehicles are expected to cross the bridge, on average, per day.

The state-of-the-art bridge has been constructed by USAID in partnership with the Road Development Authority under the aegis of the Ministry of Highways.

The design is a combination of steel and concrete, which made the bridge less expensive, faster to build, and more durable.

This technology is often used in the United States, but has not previously been used in Sri Lanka.

“For decades to come, this bridge over Arugam Bay will symbolize the commitment of the American people to help Sri Lanka rebuild and grow economically after the tsunami,” U.S. Charge d’ Affairs James R. Moore said at the opening ceremony.

“It will bear witness to our support for stability, democratic governance, economic growth and development in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province.”

USAID Mission Director Rebeccaa Cohn highlighted the community involvement in completing this project in her opening remarks, explaining that approximately 80% of the workforce was recruited from the local communities of Pottuvil, Arugam Bay and Panama, giving local citizens direct economic benefits from this project.

In addition, numerous meetings with the people and community leaders in Pottuvil and Ulla were organized to discuss the bridge construction.

“We are proud of the level of community involvement, which showed all of us that by working together, we could complete this very ambitious project,” Ms Cohn said.

She also expressed hope that the new bridge will help boost the local economy by providing easier access for tourists to the 64 hotels in the Arugam Bay area.

Dr. Even Feigenbaum, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State of South and Central Asian Affairs, also took part in and addressed the opening ceremony.

Conspiracies will not deter Govt.

THE Government has initiated massive development programmes while liberating people from the clutches of terrorists and this development drive cannot be abandoned despite many conspiracies including attacks on journalists, President Mahinda Rajapaska told the gathering.

He was referring to an incident that occurred on Monday when a journalist and his friend were attacked in Colombo.

The President stated that such incidents are conspiratorial attempts to tarnish the image of the country at a critical time in its history and roll back the victories in the battlefield.