Northern development gets Rs 10 b

Minister Douglas Devananda

The Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs 10 billion for the development of the north, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

The minister said that though the Opposition had alleged that no budgetary allocations had been made for the development of the north and resettlement of IDPs, the government carried out many developmental activities and resettled people with the allocations that had been made.

Addressing a meeting, he said that the development work carried by NELSIP and NERP in the north were by funds from the government and the funds spent by voluntary organizations for the construction of houses and other development work were funds approved by the government.

Divisional secretaries, senior government officers of the northern region and people's representatives had been invited for the meeting.

The discussion centred on how the Rs 10 billion allocated by the Economic Development Ministry had to be utilized. The problems faced by the people who have been resettled, issues regarding lands belonging to the government and public properties, fresh water fish farming projects, issues regarding fisheries industry and making available fishing gear for resettled fisher families were discussed.

Development at a pace in the north. File photo

Special attention was paid to study the planned development projects that were to utilize the funds from the Economic Development Ministry. Under these projects, many that had been planned for the implementation like the rehabilitation of rural roads, small and medium scale irrigation projects, rural drinking water projects, renovations to school and public buildings, establishment of rural health centers, establishment of hospitals, setting up of fertilizer and paddy stores, construction of post offices and other offices including renovations to old office buildings, construction and renovations to multipurpose co-operative building and seed stores, providing financial assistance to the resettled, construction of toilets and providing other facilities deemed essential to the people.

Devananda instructed the divisional secretaries to report to him details of all government lands and public properties.

He also instructed the divisional secretaries to inform him with details of areas where fresh water fish and shrimps could be carried out together with maps marking these places.

Jaffna Government Agent Imelda Sukumar, Jaffna mayor Yogeswary Patkunarajah, Jaffna district MP Sylvestri Alantin and government officials also participated.