Govt spending billions for North, East rehabilitation - Minister Rajapaksa

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that the government, while spending billions of rupees from its coffers to rehabilitate facilities in the war ravaged North and East, also borrows billions in dollars from friendly countries and lending agencies as loans for the same.

"The aim of the government is to develop all areas in the country without any discrimination.

The availability of land, roads and other infrastructure are the first priority for investment in the country.

So the government with the aim of bringing investment to the north has engaged in developing those facilities, the minister said.

The minister invited the private sector investors to come forward to start industrial and commercial activities in the Jaffna peninsula as it would help generate more employment opportunities for the educated youths of the area.

"Now the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has brought back all the displaced people of Jaffna to their own homes. This past incident is a bitter experience to the entire nation. As we have now completely ended the conflict that brought destruction especially to the north in the last 30 years, terrorism would not be allowed to raise its ugly head again" the minister assured the people of Jaffna on Thursday after inaugurating several development projects in the north.

Development work at Valikamam North and the South at Thellippalai in Jaffna, which comprises a large extent of the High Security Zone recently vested in the people was kick started under a fast track programme with jungle clearing at a cost of Rs 34 million. This has paved the way for returnees to start their lifeline immediately engaging in cultivation and other activities as well.

Valikamam North and South that includes Thellippalai, Chunnakam and the surroundings had a population of 15,000 families and half of them have returned to their homes with the lifting of HSZ last month.

Minister Rajapaksa Thursday visited the historical Mavadipuram Kovil and after having enquired from the Kurukkal, minister directed the officials to undertake necessary renovations immediately.

He distributed a large number of water pumps, spray guns, sewing machines, school uniforms, educational materials, squatting pans and several other agricultural equipment to the resettled people as an immediate livelihood assistance.

Several development projects were inaugurated to uplift the area. A new building for Thellippalai Divisional secretariat, a library, a bus stand and a super market will come up near the Union College junction within the next 12 months at a cost of Rs 181 million. Allocations have also been made under the Emergency Northern Recovery Project (ENREP) and Emergency Local Service project (NELSHIP) of the Economic Development Ministry to develop six schools inclusive of Union College and the Mahajana College and several roads in the area.

Accordingly, the rehabilitation and widening of 84 km Jaffna-Point Pedro AB 020 road, Puttur-Meesalai AB 32 road, Jaffna-KKS AB 16 road, Jaffna- Palaly AB 18 road were commenced by the minister. These road projects will cost Rs 1,185 million to be completed by 2013. Rehabilitation of several other by-roads were also initiated by the minister on Thursday.

A Large number of people inclusive of elders, women and schoolchildren thanked the minister for assistance given by the government for them to lead a normal life as other citizens in the country.

Even, though security personnel had put up a stage for the minister to address the people, he went to the shed where the people were seated and chatted with them.

The minister said that it was very unfortunate that they were displaced from their own houses and ensured that the government has already made the necessary arrangements to provide all required needs for them to lead a normal life.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Governor G A Chandrasiri also associated with the minister during this visit to former HSZ areas.