Development accelerated at the height of military action - Prof. G.L. Peiris

The simultaneous focus on eradication of terrorism, rapid development in every significant sector such as highways, irrigation systems, ports, the power and energy sector, and continuing commitment to welfare represents the hallmark of the first four years of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's tenure of office, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said in Bingiriya on Thursday.

To mark the fourth anniversary of the President's accession to office, the Export Development and International Trade Minister inaugurated, in Bingiriya and Udubaddawa, a project which Prof. Peiris described as a model for economic development at the grassroot level.

On the occasion 25 Armed Forces and Police families were given residential houses on 20 perches each, and the construction was begun on a 17 acre. These families, as well as 200 other families - 100 from Bingiriya and 100 from Udubaddawa - were provided a stable means of livelihood. The chosen method, appropriate for the area, was foliage and anthurium cultivation.

Prof. Peiris said the Ministry had called for applications from families in the area, and 1,200 families had been chosen.

The project in respect of 200 families will be completed before the end of the year, he said. Each family, the Minister said will be provided a green house, covered and suitably equipped, with 500 anthurium plants at a cost of approximately Rs. 120,000.