D A Rajapaksa memorial lecture:

Prof calls for stronger North, South dialogue

Chaminda PERERA

Former Senior Professor in Political Science and Public Policy of Colombo University Dr Laksiri Fernando yesterday queried whether the Provincial Councils have the competence or the full capacity to handle all functions assigned to them under the 13th Amendment.

He questioned as to how far the present Provincial Council system obliterates the issues of District, Divisional Secretariat and Grama Niladhari levels as a result of overwhelming power concentration in the hands of the PCs.

Dr Fernando was delivering the D A Rajapaksa annual memorial lecture at Temple Trees yesterday.

The theme of the lecture was expected contribution from the North and the East for the National Development of Sri Lanka.

He was of the view that there should be complete cooperation between the Central Government, Provincial Councils and the local government in the march towards achieving economic prosperity for the county.

He said there was a vast disparity in the Northern province in terms of development. Dr Fernando added that the Jaffna district is ahead in the economic uplift when compared to other districts in the Northern province.

He said that a concerted effort is being made by the Government with the support of all political parties to establish economic and social development under the Mahinda Chintana policy framework. Dr. Fernando stressed the need for accelerating the contribution to GDP from North and the East regions. He said the political parties in the north and the East should extend their maximum support to the Government's exercise in a broader manner.

The damage caused by terrorism in the North and the East has been estimated at US$ 200 billion which is fourfold when compared with Sri Lanka's annual GDP.

He said the Eastern province and the Jaffna district have seen economic revival after the end of the three-decade conflict. Dr Fernando said the Government has implemented several mega projects in the North and the East to restore the infrastructure facilities devastated by the terrorists.

He added that the Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has succeeded in resettling over 300,000 people displaced by LTTE terrorist atrocities within 18 months. Dr Fernando added that only 16,000 people are living in welfare camps in the North.

He was of the view that there should be a comprehensive political dialogue between the North and the South and the business communities in the North and the South should forge more closer cooperation to boost the country's economy.

The meeting was chaired by Ruhunu Magampaththu Chief Incumbent and Chancellor of Uva Wellassa University Dr Aluthwewa Soratha Thera. Prime Minister D M Jayaratne garlanded the D A Rajapaksa statue.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa were among those present.