Northern development:

Govt on track

Sri Lanka one family, one nation - President:

Rasika SOMARATHNA in Mannar

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that the Government was on track to develop the north and other former conflict affected areas, which were deprived of development for the last 30 years due to terrorism, These areas will be developed on par with other areas of the country.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Wanni District UPFA Conference in Mannar yesterday. Minister Rishad Bathiudeen and Senior Minister Milroy Fernando and Northern Province Governor Maj Gen (Retd) G A Chandrasiri were also present. Picture by Kamal Jayamanne

“We have carried out development work in the North and other former conflict affected areas as never before in the history of these regions,” the President said addressing the UPFA Wanni District Conference held in support of party candidates contesting the upcoming Local Authority Elections at Mannar town.

He also told the gathering that all Sri Lankans should stand united if the country is to achieve its full potential and go forward towards prosperity after a 30 year old conflict which took the country backwards.

While noting that the Government’s aim was to develop all areas equally, the President said that with this goal in mind the Government has allocated more money to fast track development of these areas to bring them on par with other parts of the country.

Speaking on future challenges the President said that although the country has achieved a lot during the past two years since defeating terrorism there was a long way to go. “The development taking place is there for everybody to see.

“We are also confident that our future plans would take the country on the path to prosperity,” the President added.

Speaking on certain issues confronted by the public in the area, the President said that issues related to fishing and lands would be sorted out shortly and added that discussions to achieve sustained solutions were progressing well.

The President also noted that the Government has laid emphasis on education and facilities were being provided accordingly. We strongly believe that our children should be equipped with a quality all-round education not only for them to excel locally but for them to be world beaters as well.

Speaking on the upcoming polls he told the gathering that both the President and the Government had a mandate from the people to govern the country during the next few years and a UPFA victory at the LG elections could supplement Government efforts at village development. The President told the gathering that the Government would soon unveil the one million domestic economic unit programs.

“Its focus is to develop families taking them as one economic unit and thereby contribute to village and the country’s overall development,” he added.

Speaking in Tamil the President said that the northern areas would no longer be considered underdeveloped ones.

To achieve rapid progress he urged the people to stand united irrespective of differences.

The President said that there were no more divisions in the country and it was one family, one nation and one country.

Speaking on detractors the President noted that there were yet some elements that want to divide and destabilize the country to realize their ulterior political motives and urged the people not to be misled by them.

Paying a glowing tribute to Minister Rishard Bathiudeen under whose purview the meeting was organized, the President identified him as a politician who works for the benefit of the masses sans differences. He told the people to vote for the ‘Betel Leaf’ at the upcoming polls to supplement the Government’s efforts to build economically vibrant and socially developed villages which in turn would contribute to the countries overall growth.

Minister Rishard Bathiudeen, Senior Minister Milroy Fernando, U Farook MP, former MP S Kanagarathnam and others too addressed the gathering. Northern Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri, politicians and UPFA candidates were present.