To ensure benefits of victory trickle down :
Fast track NE development - Rienzie Wijetilleke
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
The development of the North and East should be fast tracked along
with the rest of the country to ensure that the benefits of the victory
against the LTTE filter down to the people. The process should be
reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction, Chairman Hatton
National Bank (HNB) Rienzie Wijetilleke told Daily News Business.
Rienzie Wijetilleke |
He outlined certain proposals which can be implemented utilizing the
internal resources which will yield quick results. “We don’t have to
depend on foreign aid for everything as there are many ventures that the
banks can support,” he said.
Extending a new roadway link along the southern coast beyond
Kataragama along the coastline through the Yala sanctuary, Kumana up to
Pottuvil and setting up small hamlets along that roadway with a planned
program is very important.
These villages can then be colonized and agricultural projects and
small industries can be developed using local resources, he said.
Simultaneously, people in the north and east can take to various
employment projects such as producing milk, eggs, vegetables, fruits and
fish within a short period where their day-to-day requirements will be
fulfilled while earning an income.
However, middle level businessmen should set up cold rooms,
collection centres, stores and other infrastructure facilities to store
and transport the excess products using bank finances. In the past, the
banks had successfully recovered such loans as the projects generated
short term and positive results, he said.
If arrangements can be made to transport these items by air to the
rest of the country such as Anuradhapura and Kurunegala it will create
more opportunities.
A few small airfields should be constructed with the support of the
private sector where people can travel to the main cities in the country
including the north and east saving valuable time, Wijetilleke said.
As a knowledge of English is vital, the Government can organize some
crash courses in English for the priests in the churches and for those
in the temples in each area. Later their support can be mobilized in
village schools.
Teaching appointments can be given to suitable assistants and then
village schools will have English teachers. Similarly, the private
sector can get involved in computer training programs to develop the
villages.
They can also provide essential health care, education, water,
electricity and other essential services with a short term plan.
Financial institutions can have a branch network every 10-15 kms and
introduce self-employment schemes.
Referring to the concept of Agriculture Service Centres introduced by
the late Hector Kobbekaduwa, he said that it was not successful because
those who were involved in it did not understand the value but that type
of scheme can be re-established which will assure assistance for
agricultural activities and marketing products.
The construction industry can be given a big boost with the
introduction of planned building of houses, schools, hospitals with
assistance from friendly countries such as China, India and Japan who
have lost the bulk of export markets due to the global recession.
He said that a Bond issue titled the ‘North East Development Bond’
for about Rs 25 billion managed by the Central Bank should be created
along with an institution such as the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association which
is a guaranteed public company and marketed to the private sector. This
will attract investors and guarantee efficient management of the fund
with a definite return on the investment.
Wijetilleke said that every effort should be made to connect the
north east economy with the rest of the country and all activities
should be networked so that the whole country will benefit by
inter-provincial transactions particularly at lower and middle levels.
Sharing of resources will be possible with proper communication
links. Foreign aid can be sought for infrastructure development such as
railways, ports and airports.
It would take only 24 months for the country to reap the real
benefits of a change of environment in the post conflict period, he
said. |