'East now finding its lost glamour'

The Eastern people are living in peace and harmony after many decades and they witness much development and are improving their social well being, said Road Development, Housing and Construction, Irrigation, Rural Electrification and Water Supply Minister M S Uthumalebbe speaking at the inauguration of a road at Padiyathalawa, Maha Oya, Ampara.

"Thousands of acres of lands which were barren for nearly three decades are being cultivated. Acres of paddy can be seen," he said.

Earlier, the expenditure was handled by the LTTE. Funds were spent for their bunkers in Mullaithivu and Killinochchi. But today funds are allocated for the development of the Eastern Province, he said. "However, the TNA has decided to destroy this harmony and are trying to make the Easteners suffer once again," he said. "They have forgotten how the LTTE killed hundreds of monks in Aranthalawa, hundreds of Muslims during prayers at Kathankudy and Eravur and the Hindu Gurukal who garland our President at Vakarai. Where was the TNA at such instances," he questioned.