Basil tells officials:

Complete developing access road to Madhu shrine before feast

Chaminda Perera and Dhanushka Godakumbura

Senior Presidential Advisor and Basil Rajapaksa MP instructed officials to complete the development of the access road to the Madhu shrine before the annual Madhu festival.

Funds for the project was allocated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he was Prime Minister. The total cost of the project is Rs. 95 million.

Parliamentarian Rajapaksa made this order when the Presidential Task Force on Northern Development chaired by him reviewed the progress of the development activities in the Mannar district on Saturday.

He also instructed the officials to resume the mobile phone connections within two hours, which was barred by the Government due to the terrorist atrocities, after officials pointed out that the lack of communication facilities might impede development activities in the district.

The officials focused on the condition of fisheries, health, education and irrigation sectors in the district. They also discussed how infrastructure facilities could be developed in the district. Senior Presidential Advisor Rajapaksa instructed officials to carry out a complete survey on the soil of the Mannar district and identify crops that can yield better harvest.

He stressed the need of growing crops in all cultivable lands in the district and directed the officials to explore the possibility to promote red onion cultivation in the district.

“The country imports more than 70 percent of its red onion requirement and we should try to cultivate red onions in at least in 1,000 hectares,” he said.

The Presidential Task Force on Northern Development also discussed the road development activities in the Mannar town. The officials apprised Rajapaksa that over 70 percent construction of the Mannar bridge has been completed. Rajapaksa also drew attention on the reconstruction of the Yodawewa to revive the agricultural activities in the district. The Government has allocated Rs. 385 million to reconstruct the Yodawewa which is in progress now.