Under Uthuru Vasanthaya programme :

North on rapid growth track - President

Largest allocation of funds for Northern development:

The Northern Province which had suffered a great setback for a period of 30 years is now rapidly marching towards development under the Uthuru Vasanthaya programme as the government has apportioned the largest slice of funds for Northern development, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa when he opened new buildings at the Chavakachcheri hospital yesterday.

The President who said that he considered it a pleasure to visit the North and provide new buildings and other modern facilities to its people, added the government considered that it is duty bound to provide equal facilities needed by people countrywide, including the North.

These included educational, electricity, water supply, infrastructure and facilities needed by the farming population. President Rajapaksa said the government’s main concern was to enable people to lead happy and contented lives.

‘In providing services to the people the government did not differentiate among them according to regions.

‘The government’s desire was to see people in all parts of the country living in unity as members of a single family, he said.

The President said when someone tried to present him with a memento he emphasized that the best memento or gift that could be given him was to extend the support needed to build a united and peaceful nation.

The President said the building of a united and peaceful nation is the responsibility of all and sundry including politicians, public officials, university academics, the media and the general public.

The media especially should be just and fair in its criticism. It should never try to spread communalism and divide the nation. The media especially has a responsibility to bind together the people as a single unit and steer society forward without differences and divisions as to caste, creed or community. This is a duty owed by them to the future generation.

It is the duty especially of elders to foster a patriotic people who feel proud of their motherland, he explained.

“There are problems that we can resolve through discussion and dialogue. However, there is a section of people demanding things which cannot be granted. It is clear that there is a certain political group inclined to keep problems festering like the proverbial beggar’s wound, by making separatist demands.

“But I believe that there should be fairness in making demands which could be granted. What should be discussed are demands aimed to foster social integration.

The President speaking in Tamil briefly said, “I am fully aware of the difficulties and trials and tribulations you have undergone for a long period. You are a people who have now started a new lease of life.

“We are all happy that you are leading happy lives with renewed hopes and aspirations. We have granted the largest slice of development funds to the Northern Province. We have brought development in all sectors. There may be certain shortcomings but we hope to overcome them soon. Modern facilities have been provided to several hospitals in the North because the health of the people is important,” he said.

“The three buildings opened today at the Chavakachcheri hospital cost Rs 158 million. People should try to derive maximum benefits from the facilities provided,” the President said.

The President said, “Today the environment has been provided for you to live in peace and freedom. Sri Lankans resident abroad including intellectuals should now return to the motherland to serve its people.

“Harping on old issues and incidents would take us nowhere. It would only create anger and hatred among the people.

“We are members of a single family and nation. This country belongs to us all including our children. I assure you a very bright future,” the President said.

Earlier, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the people of the North and the South should have a responsibility to act in a way that would promote, coexistence, peace and harmony in the country and that they can make the hard won peace more meaningful. The President was speaking at the progress review meeting of Northern Province development activities at the Jaffna District Secretariat yesterday.

The President said that the Northern Province has seen massive development with the establishment of Presidential Task Force for Northern Province Development, 32 months ago.

President Rajapaksa was of the view that the peace enjoyed by the people of the Northern Province would become more meaningful with the development activities being carried out in the Province.

“I believe that the people of this province are happy over the development activities being implemented by the government,” he said.

He said that some media organizations operating in the Jaffna peninsular are trying to mislead the public by carrying false news on shortcomings in schools in the Jaffna region and on drug shortages in government hospitals in the region.

“Nothing can be won through hatred. It is peace and harmony and coexistence that can lead to victory,” he said.