Minister Peiris tells diplomats:
Post-war development at a pace in North
Rasika SOMARATHNA
*Political institutions resurrected
*Appreciates contribution by int’l community
Despite challenges, the government has been able to achieve
impressive and sustained progress in developing the former conflict-torn
North, both socially and economically, External Affairs Minister Prof.
G.L.Peiris told the diplomatic community.
Prof. G.L.Peiris |
“Most impressive here is the pace of development carried out during
the short span of two and a half years since the Lankan conflict ended,”
he said while giving a detailed report on the progress of development
work in the area.
Addressing foreign diplomats in Colombo recently, the minister said
that the government had also been able to establish civil administration
and resurrect political institutions in the area which were dormant for
the major part of the last 30 years due to acts of terrorism.
He said that this exercise would be completed with the holding of
Provincial Council elections in the North, most probably early next
year.
Prof Peiris noted that the government appreciates the contribution
made by the international community and other organizations in various
development initiatives.
According to the report given to diplomats, compiled by the
Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development, and Security in
the Northern Province, 420,888 people have been resettled in the area,
since the end of conflict. No welfare centres in other districts remain
other than two in Manic farm.
The remaining IDPs in Manic farm too are to be resettled shortly.
Some of the other highlights regarding development in the area are,
the repairs to over 24,500 houses or newly built ones. The government
with the assistance of other organizations plans to build 73,044 houses
in the area.
”With government assistance farmers have been able to cultivate 75
percent of the paddy lands which were abandoned in the north due to the
conflict. In the last two and a half years, farmers have cultivated
136,000 acres out of 180,000 acres which remained abandoned when the
conflict ended,” he said.
Among the most impressive progress made have been witnessed in the
health and education sectors. The government has spent over Rs. 2.6
billion to repair hospitals, build new ones and provide equipment and
drugs. Almost all the major hospitals and small and medium scale medical
centres have been repaired. New ones have been built at identified
locations.
In the north, out of 1020 schools, 900 are functioning. However
arrangements have been made for students in schools that are not
functioning to follow classes in alternate locations. As of 2010, over
220,000 were studying in schools with nearly 14,000 teachers to assist
them. The government has invested over Rs. 1.2 billion in the education
sector so far.
Prof. Peiris told diplomats that the government was the one which has
invested the most on road development in post independence Sri Lanka. In
the north too, the government has invested nearly US $ 490 million to
construct 512 Kms of major roads.
”In the rehabilitation of northern railways, the government has
invested US $ 652.4 million to construct 252 kms of rail roads. On the
rehabilitation of reservoirs and large and medium scale irrigation
schemes the government has invested nearly Rs. 01 billion to supplement
over 100 schemes,” the minister said.
Impressive growth rates too have been recorded in food crops
cultivation and livestock development.
In the black gram cultivation a 115 percent increase has been
recorded, followed by green gram (70 percent increase), ground nut (84
percent increase), red onion (69 percent increase) and cow pea (47
percent increase).
In the livestock sector 40 per cent of the annual requirement needed
is produced within the province at present. According to predictions,
the province is slated to achieve self-sufficiency in livestock
production within the next few years.
Some of the major projects in the north are rehabilitation of KKS
harbour, rehabilitation of Palali airport runway, reconstruction of
major bridges such as sangupiddy, Mannar etc and the construction of
Kokavil transmission tower, the minister said. |