Resource rich Mannar can join low poverty district list - Basil

Due to Northern development plans of the government, Mannar district could join the lowest poverty level districts in Sri Lanka next year.”

Mannar is rich in resources becoming part of the rice bowl, abundant in salt and fisheries. The district is on track for development and prosperity due to government’s plans for infrastructure and agriculture in the district. Vavuniya is lowest on poverty followed by Colombo and Gampaha and I am sure Mannar will join the list next year” says Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa was addressing the inauguration ceremony of Divineguma on January 21 in Mannar where Douglas Devananda (Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises), Rishad Bathiudeen (Minister of Industry and Commerce), and A H M Fowzie (Senior Minister for Urban Affairs) were also present.

The Divineguma series of exhibitions are promoted under the guidance of Minister Rajapaksa’s Ministry of Economic Development and is implemented under five line ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

The Export Development Board (EDB) and National Entrepreneurs Development Authority (NEDA) of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce contribute significantly to the programme according to the vested subject areas. On January 21 and 22, more than 6000 people thronged the first Divineguma exhibition that went on show in Mannar.

The eighth Divineguma show in the series and the first ever Divineguma to be held in the region, it also highlighted strong private sector participation and pulled the highest Tamil speaking crowds in any Divineguma show to be held in the Northern Province, specially considering the overall low population in the region. Interestingly, it also showed unprecedented interest of many exhibition goers- who usually go after white collar occupations- towards small scale entrepreneurship and self- employment. Explaining the Divineguma concept, Minister Rajapaksa said: “The Mahinda Chinthana vision is about how Mahinda Rajapaksa, our President is envisioning to make Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia.

His idea of Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia means not only making the country a Wonder but also to convert its citizens, families, the village and the district too, into a wonder so that in turn, we will see the wonder of people of Sri Lanka.

The theme of Mahinda Chinthana is to develop the individual, then the family, followed by the village which in turn will develop the country. In this broader concept, the programme that will focus on the person and the family is called as Divineguma.

Through our aim is to create a healthy family of strong individuals. We are working towards making every person and each family unit in the country a self-sufficient economic unit which will begin to supply fruits and vegetables.

Our previous generations delved in paddy, chena and other crop cultivations and kept even the dairy supply at their own household. If all these failed, as an alternative, the household woman also did some form of a cottage industry such as clay, or dry fish, to maintain self-sufficiency. Through Divineguma we expect to re-create 2.5 million self-sufficient households.

Today you are experiencing an important aspect of this Divineguma where our household women have the opportunity to engage in a cottage industry at home level and earn an income.

Today we have invited around 8000 individuals here representing the same number of households. However we cannot on our own form a self-sufficient economy. We need your contribution too to achieve this. You need to enlist in this effort first by choosing a cottage industry of your choice from the wide variety of industry choices available here.

The cottage industries under this scheme are divided into two groups-one to be done on a collaborative basis and the other at an individual level.

This expo gives you an opportunity to obtain the basic knowledge with regard to the cottage industry of your choice. You will come to know what type of machinery you will need, the amount to be invested, the avenues of financial aid and loans available to you etc. Once we help you to go into your choice of cottage industry, we thereafter will also give you the needed training through nominated institutions.

The GA, DS office and other government officials in your area will assist you on behalf of line ministries to get the raw material to start your enterprise. However, you are responsible for production, distribution and marketing of your own products.”

Talking of the Mannar region, Minister Rajapaksa said: “Mannar district is rich in resources becoming part of the rice bowl, abundant in salt and fisheries. The district is on track for development and prosperity due to government’s plans for infrastructure and agriculture in this District. Vavuniya is lowest in poverty followed by Colombo and Gampaha and I am sure Mannar will join the list next year.”

Talking of the government’s development efforts, Minister Rajapaksa said: “The government has formulated development plans based on identified priorities. Peace and law & order are essential for development. At one time, more than two thirds of the coastal areas were lost to national production and there was fear everywhere even to walk on the road. Mahinda Rajapaksa, our President has brought peace to the country along with our dedicated soldiers. Thereafter he created a peaceful environment to start the development process.

New roads and infrastructure including bridges, sky bridges, ports and airports have been built. Village level electricity schemes were developed, and irrigation schemes such as Deduruoya, Moragahakanda were further developed. Not forgetting that 80% of our population are in rural areas, the Gamaneguma project was introduced to develop village infrastructure.”