‘Beware of sugar - coated words of self-centred politicos’

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa warned the people not to get carried away by the sugar - coated words of poison, mouthed by the self-centred politicians as they would lead them nowhere but social disharmony and ultimately the destruction.

Rajapaksa was speaking at a function when the sluice gates of the restored Kalmadu irrigation tank were opened.

The restored irrigation tank is the second largest in the North, extending over a catchment area of 68 sq km. The event was attended by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda on March 11.

This reservoir was destroyed by the LTTE to prevent the government troops from entering into Northern territory.

The reservoir was fully-restored by the Irrigation Department at a cost of Rs 201 million with funds allocated by the Economic Development Ministry.

It's envisaged that 4,250 acres could be brought under cultivation with the waters from the restored tank. It will benefit more than 15,000 families. Minister Basil Rajapaksa stated that they, on that day was not opening a new reservoir but a restored tank destroyed by the LTTE terrorists and that he was happy to give the opportunity to the people to get engaged in their livelihoods without fear and suspicion.

The minister said that the intention of the President was to see that every individual in the society lived in peace and happiness, irrespective to which community one belonged to.

He also said that it was very easy to destroy things painstakingly built over years in a moment, but creation would be an extremely tough task, similarly, trashing up the minds of people with hatredness and vengeance, as had been practised by some elected ill-meaning politicians was very easy but inculcating in the minds of the people, loving kindness and brotherhood was extremely difficult.

The minister urged the people to work for a common cause and make Sri Lanka a better place to live, especially for their children.

Speaking at the occasion Minister Devananda stated that during the period of war when the LTTErs destroyed the tank, thousands of farmer- families were left in the lurch without being able to engage in their livelihood. However. soon after the ending of the terrorist menace, the government had been able to launch many a mega development programmes in the North at the behest of the President by the Economic Development Ministry for improving the quality of life of the Northern people and one such was the restoration of the Kalmadu tank.

Minister Rishard Bathiudeen said that the government was doing its best for the betterment of all citizens of this country without even a trace of racial discrimination.

EPDP Jaffna District Member of Parliament and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Parliament Murugesu Chandrakumar also spoke.

Public Administration Deputy Minister Wijaya Dahanayake, Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri, Kilinochchi Government Agent Rupawathy Ketheeswaran and several State officials and a large number of people participated.

Consequent to the meeting, the foundation stone for the first stage of the Kilinochchi District Secretariat was laid by Minister Basil Rajapaksa and Minister Devananda.