Several benefits after CFA annulment

UDITHA KUMARASINGHE and IRANGIKA RANGE

Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardene told Parliament yesterday the cancellation of the ceasefire agreement on January 3, 2008 has given a number of benefits to the people of the North and East and the entire nation as well.

Responding to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake, the Minister said through the humanitarian operations and the crash development programmes implemented by the Government in the Northern and Eastern Provinces since January 2008, up-to-date special rewards and benefits have accrued to the people in these areas and the entire country as well.

The Minister said the Local Government and Provincial Council elections were held restoring democracy and civil administration in the Eastern Province. The infrastructure and other development activities have been expedited through the implementation of Negenahira Navodaya programme.

Meanwhile the resettlement of persons displaced by the war and provision of basic facilities including housing have already been completed, he said.

Most of the lands in the Northern Province have been secured from the terrorists through the humanitarian operations thereby confining terrorists to a small strip of land less than 300 square metres in extent, the Minister added.

The Minister said the majority of the people and the children who were in the clutches of terrorists in the North have been freed. Under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme initiatives have been taken to resettle the displaced persons and to provide them with the required facilities such as housing.

The cancellation of the ceasefire has also paved the way to commence programmes to repair roads such as A-9 and A-32 and the railways. Once the humanitarian operations cease, there would be considerable savings of funds which could be utilised for the development of the area as well for the uplift of the living standards of the people.

This would be the main benefit that would be gained by the people, he said.

The Minister said the Government has spent Rs. 774 billion on the Armed Forces and police from the year 2000 to date of this Rs. 774 billion, Rs. 592 billion was spent on the Army, Rs. 32 billion on the Navy, Rs. 91 billion on the Air Force, while Rs. 49 billion was spent on the Police Department.