'Unprecedented development in North'

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said that the promises made to the people are being fulfilled consequent to discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The minister said so at a meeting with visiting Indian journalists at the Nallur Lux Hotel recently.

The minister said that it did not suffice talking only with one party for a solution to the problem of the Tamil speaking people as the aim of his party was not competitive politics.

'The Tamil leaders then conveniently missed many valuable opportunities for a meaningful solution to the political rights of the Tamil speaking people, which ended in a war bringing misery, loss of life and damage to property running into billions of rupees. The Tamil political leaders today were shedding crocodile tears as if they were the saviours of Tamil speaking people,' the minister said.

He said working with the government will pave the way for a lasting and meaningful solution to the ethnic problem.

'President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only genuine leader who can find a solution to the ethnic problem. The President is a leader who is dedicated to working for all Sri Lankans one and all,' he said.

Minister Devananda said, when development activities and programmes were considered in the past, the South was given preference to the North. The situation has changed now with special emphasis made on Northern development.

The country, especially the Northern Province is now experiencing a development boom. All should support the setting up of the Parliamentary Select Committee.

The minister also expressed his belief that a final solution to the problem of Tamil speaking people could be arrived at with the consensus of all other political parties within a time frame of six months from the date of setting up of the Parliamentary Select Committee. The setting up of the Parliamentary Committee could be at any date, added the minister.

'Since ending war, taking into consideration the present peaceful environment, several High Security Zones had now been removed and resettlement continues in the lands belonging to people which came under the High Security Zones during the war period, the minister said. The promises given to the people concerning development in diverse fields were being now carried out after having discussed such development programmes with the government,' added the minister.