New development thrust:

Equal opportunities for urban, rural areas

Rasika Somarathna

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the new development thrust was aimed at addressing the discrepancies caused by urban migration by providing equal opportunities and facilities to rural areas on par with those enjoyed by the urban population.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa made these observations addressing over 5,000 nurses at Temple Trees yesterday, at an event organized by the Public Services United Nurses Union, to mark the International Nurses Day which also coincides with the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, considered as the pioneer of modern nursing.

The President said that adverse health complications both mental and physical had been brought on the people due to population migration from rural to urban areas.

He was of the opinion that migrants from rural to urban areas had borne the brunt due to vacating their healthy lifestyles under more nature-friendly and familiar conditions.

He also noted that due to these migration process youth had been subjected to unnecessary mental pressures both due to unfriendly environment and a fiercely competitive lifestyle.

”As a result even small children are afflicted with heart diseases, diabetes, mal-nutrition etc. and youth have resorted to seeking solace through unhealthy habits to escape from undue pressures,” he observed.

He said the new initiatives to alleviate discrepancies would help in stalling the migration process which in turn would help in producing a healthier\productive population both in urban and rural areas.

The President on the occasion also paid a glowing tribute to the country’s nursing fraternity, identifying them as a sector which had always upheld their social responsibility even under trying conditions.

He said that they had a bigger role to play today to achieve the above objectives and added that they should be the guiding light for a healthier population, which in turn could effectively supplement the country’s economic and social resurgence.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa also fondly remembered the contribution of the Country’s health sector in the battle to defeat terrorism.

He said that they had looked after the well-being of both soldiers and civilians with selfless dedication and they were one of the major stakeholders in the country’s new found freedom.

The President reminded the gathering that the International Nurses day was being held on a momentous occasion in the country’s history with the first anniversary since the defeat of terrorism (May 19) only a few days away.

He also emphasized that the country did not wage war against any community but only engaged in a humanitarian operation to restore long lost democratic rights of the people in the North and East.

“This fight was against terrorism and separatism. We only retaliated when they attacked us. We were able to end a 30-year-old conflict. Now our priority is development,” he added.

Commenting on the country’s present economic thrust the President pointed out that the Per Capita GDP which was hovering below US $ 1060 since independence up to 2005 had risen to US $ 2000 in the short span of five years since then.

“Our intention is to propel the figure beyond US $ 4000 at the earliest possible opportunity and a healthy and productive population is vital to supplement the effort, he added.

The President also promised to further upgrade training and education related to nursing and said that the responsibility in this regard was vested with the Ministry.

The Public Services United Nurses Union Chief Ven.Muruttetuwe Ananda Thera and the newly appointed Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena too spoke on the occasion among others. Several Ministers, politicians, health officials and well-wishers were present.