Events to mark 104th birth anniversary of D.A. Rajapaksa

Irangika RANGE reporting from Embilipitiya

The Walawe River Development project and Chandrika Wewa Development Project at Embilipitiya to uplift the Hambantota and Embilipitiya areas were launched yesterday in Embilipitiya as a tribute to late politician D.A. Rajapaksa.

These two projects among a number of other social and economic development activities were initiated under the patronage of Ports and Aviation and Irrigation and Water Management Minister Chamal Rajapaksa to appreciate the public service rendered by the late politician D.A. Rajapaksa.

Irrigation Minister Jayatissa Ranaweera, and Textile Industry Development Minister Mahinda Rathnatilaka also attended the ceremony. A set of social welfare programs have also been organised to commemorate the 104th birth anniversary of D.A. Rajapaksa and solutions to the shortcomings and problems affecting the people of Hambantota and Embilipitiya will be provided.

The program will conclude today. All projects were launched after conducting a Pirith Chanting and an alms giving to Maha Sangha on the banks of the Chandrika Wewa to commemorate the 104th birth anniversary of the late D.A. Rajapaksa. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Navy's special boat squadron and rapid action boat squadron conducted a special naval display in the Chandrika Wewa as a attribute to the victorious operations conducted against the LTTE in North and East. In addition, a number of identified problems relating to the agriculture and education sector in Hambantota and Embilipitiya will be addressed and solutions found within the two days.

Constructing of eight school playgrounds, distributing of school equipment to the families of war heroes and conducting of essay and art competitions and debates among school children were among the activities marking the event.