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Government Gazette

Village as the development unit

The Eastern Province is reportedly coming to its own as the Rice Bowl of Sri Lanka. Along with the Northern Province which is fast coming under the plough once again, the East is expected to yield a very bountiful paddy harvest this Maha season, which would help keep our granaries well stocked. Apparently, some 1.5 million metric tons of paddy are expected this season and the Paddy Marketing Board is already getting into the business of purchasing paddy directly from the farmer at competitive prices.

The challenge confronting the state is to ensure that this abundant produce is channeled towards alleviating the day-to-day hardships of the people. More specifically, the cost of living issue should be reduced in magnitude. While continuing single digit inflation is welcome news, one cannot be too sure whether this would defuse in a big way the cost of living worry of many people. The state is obliged to ensure that we would have equitable growth, while expanding the wealth-creating opportunities for the people. In the final analysis, these are the means to overcoming the pressing needs of the people.

The bumper paddy harvests, particularly from the North-East, are the proof that the elimination of terror is bringing unprecedented benefits to the country. These are 'peace dividends' of note that loudly proclaim the advisability of decisively resolving law and order issues that could hinder a country's progress. Thus far, LTTE terror got in the way of the people's well being. Taking on such law and order problems head on is one of the surest means of laying the foundation for national progress. This is a lesson we should all learn although resolving the conflict by political means is quite another matter.

There is considerable wisdom in the state remaining engaged with the rural community. Given the substantial role agriculture plays in the national economy, this could not be otherwise and the current emphasis on taking state services to rural Sri Lanka would need to remain if the material burdens of the ordinary people are to be steadily alleviated. Hopefully, institutions, such as, the Agriculture Ministry's extension services, the Paddy Marketing Board and Sathosa, to name just a few, would prove infinitely useful in the days ahead.

Besides, the Divi Neguma programme must not only be persisted with, but made to yield the targeted benefits. There is considerable wisdom in seeing the village as the unit of development once again. While the cost of living issue must be constantly focused on by the state, it is plain to see that it is primarily increased all-round productivity that could help greatly in alleviating the living costs burden.

It is the constant production of our essentials on the basis of our natural and human resources that constitutes the comprehensive, long term answer to our development needs. Therefore, the state's Divi Neguma programme has much to recommend it and we hope the necessary popular support for the programme would be steadily galvanized and consolidated. The third phase of this project has just begun and we urge that the programme be taken to its logical conclusion.

While forging ahead with its programme, the state would need to ensure that it brings about the desired development with the least bureaucratic procedures and bottlenecks. The taxpayer, in particular, should not be further burdened as a result of this development thrust. Rural level officials carrying out the scheme, for instance, should be reduced to a minimum and the people encouraged to help themselves to the extent possible with the least outside assistance.

The prime emphasis should be on the people growing their own food and other requirements in the most independent of ways. In this endeavour it would be advisable to draw on the capabilities of our rural youths, with the aim of putting to maximum use the rural-based educated unemployed in particular.

While major infrastructure development projects are in order, such efforts would prove pointless if the people are not steadily empowered in the process. Such personal and collective empowerment is one of the soundest measures of development. While speeding-up the development process, such parameters need to be borne in mind.

Future Vision

‘Time needed to implement LLRC recommendations’

The UNP received the first golden opportunity to be a part of the victory of the country and to win the hearts of the public when they had the chance to support the government during the humanitarian operation. But unfortunately they missed it. Now they have another chance to achieve the same by taking part in the PSC. They will never receive another chance like this. The UNP does not like to take part in the PSC. They know President Rajapaksa will solve the issue justifiably and permanently through the PSC,

Full Story

The Lotus Heart

Don Noris’ newspaper

In the 1950s the television was unheard of - leave alone the Internet. Apparently the newspaper was everything to Don Noris Ranasinghe. It was the only source of information and entertainment.

Full Story

Development drive gets into top gear

Several sensitive problems have cropped up in the country today. Fuel price hike and the bus fare increase can be identified as the most sensitive problems of them all. Opposition parties have started to issue media statements and conduct street demonstrations based on these twin problems.

Full Story

 

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