Minister Basil Rajapaksa meets EU delegation:

Development in N-E says minister

The government has made arrangements to develop the war affected East as well as the North, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa told an European Union (EU) delegation.

Minister Rajapaksa met the EU delegation comprising Inese Vaidere, EU ambassador in Colombo Bernard Savage, Philip Kamaris, Sabine Meyer and Jean Lambert at the ministry last week.

Lambert said they visited several places in the East and observed the progress of the EU funded projects.

She said tank renovation work was progressing and the agriculture community will benefit from them.

Minister Rajapaksa said the government has initiated programmes to develop infrastructure, livelihood and the living environment.

"The Eastern people are enjoying benefits of this project. Paddy, vegetable, fish and dairy production has increased tremendously in the East. There are some problems on milk collection as some companies are refusing to buy milk. The government has taken steps to overcome this problem. Milk will be given to schools for the use of children," he said.

The EU delegation said a programme to promote SME is a necessity in the Eastern province.

Minister Rajapaksa said the government has undertaken several programmes to develop the SME sector and outsourcing of garments, food processing, etc has helped to build up a good SME sector in the East.

Responding to a query by the EU delegation, the minister said Sri Lanka will give priority to environment protection in all economic development projects.

"Such projects cannot go ahead without the clearance of the Environmental Authority. Beaches were protected when hotels were built. Sri Lanka has learnt a lot from the West regarding environmental protection with development and compelled to adhere to a tight policy in this regard," he said. The EU delegation agreed to meet frequently to review the EU funded projects in the country.