Another high in Northern development

Our news report yesterday, quoting the Jaffna Government Agent on the steady development process in the peninsula, is a positive story which deserves retelling. According to the GA, who, of course, should know best in this matter, development projects worth Rs. 50,000 million are in the process of being implemented in areas where resettlement is taking place. Besides, 85 percent of once mine-infested land is being approved for resettlement, upon the relevant areas being cleared of mines.

Thus it could be seen that development is proceeding at a steady pace in the once-troubled Northern Province and that well thought-out normalization measures are unfurling. What is equally significant is that all this and more is being undertaken predominantly by the state, which is, of course, the most vibrant of development agents countrywide. If one wants proof of the extent to which the state is proactively involved in the normalization drive in the North, here it is. Time is of the essence and the state is by no means taking a back seat in putting to right the disorder the LTTE-inspired conflict brought about over the decades.

It is mainly infrastructure development which is being focused on in the de-mined areas and such development activities are a priority at the moment in the North. Agriculture plays a considerable role in the Northern economy and if the produce of the North is to continue to flow into the rest of Sri Lanka, infrastructure, such as, roads and bridges are important. Accordingly, infrastructure development needs to get into top gear.

Equally vital is the construction of homes and hearths for the Northern populace. This project needs to be proceeded with apace and should be attached priority attention. Besides, considerable attention should be paid to the general policy of ushering equitable development. There is a tendency to focus exclusively on growth on the part of the main initiators of reconstruction and rejuvenation of once conflict-hit areas anywhere. But this focus needs to shift to equitable development if the foundation is to be laid firmly for social stability. This is on account of the fact that personal and group empowerment should be two of the primary aims of development. Without the empowerment of persons, development could not be said to have occurred.

Therefore, it is a highly consoling thought that considerable strides are being made in the direction of normalization in the once conflict-hit areas of this country. The state would need to speak at length on these and other achievements because the critics of Sri Lanka make heavy weather out of issues pertaining to reconstruction and development in the North. It will be the endeavour of these critics to paint the grimmest pictures about Sri Lanka and the state is obliged to answer them with positive, concrete developments. Now that considerable progress has been made in the development sphere in the North, these achievements should be projected vigorously to the public and that too at a consistent pace.

The state cannot expect these critics to lie low. Every effort will be made to denigrate Sri Lanka in the eyes of the world and the state and its supporters would do well to bear this in mind. There cannot be a better answer to the destructive Darusman Report and similar incendiary barrages against Sri Lanka than through positive, state-led achievements 'on the ground.' Now that progress is being made in this direction, these achievements should be forcefully highlighted to the world outside.

There needs to be also more positive, people-to-people interaction between North and South. The Northern populace is an integral part of the general populace and this should be clearly highlighted. For this purpose, activities need to get underway to link hearts and minds over the length and breadth of Sri Lanka.