Asphalt premix plant opened at Periyakulam, Medawachchiya:

President rebuilt a sagging national economy - Basil

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been able to reunite a nation divided by war and rebuild a sagging national economy, said Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

He said so after opening an asphalt premix plant at Periyakulam, Medawachchiya recently.

Minister Rajapaksa said: "Colonial rulers earlier destroyed Sri Lanka's self-sufficient economy by destroying the irrigation system throughout the country, including the Uva-Wellassa region regarded as the Granary of the East. President Rajapaksa had been able to make the country self- sufficient in rice today- a feat which could not be accomplished by past rulers during the last 30 years."

The minister said for the first time, Sri Lanka exported 500 metric tons of rice under the World Food Programme to feed people suffering from hunger in some African countries.

"Similarly 10,000 metric tons of maize produced by farmers in the North Central Province were exported on May 22," he said.

The country's local requirement has also been produced due to the provision of seed and other facilities to farmers in the Vanni district, the minister said.

Minister Rajapaksa said the opening of asphalt plants of this nature would help reduce costs involved in carpeting roads.

Development of this nature undertaken in villages and towns would help realise the dream of making Sri Lanka the Wonder of Asia, he said.

Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadda said many villages in Medawachchiya were subject to the terrorist threat during the conflict.

"President Rajapaksa's bold policies helped end the terrorist threat and restore peace. Setting up of modern production plants in the area within a short period after the restoration of peace is like a dream. Everyone should thank the President for making such dreams a reality," he said.

The new asphalt plant built at a cost of Rs 1,015 million under a Chinese aid scheme has the capacity to produce 50 tons of premix per hour.

It will provide direct and indirect employment to 100 people resident in Medawachchiya.

North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena, Deputy Minister W B Ekanayake, Parliamentarian S C Muthukumarana and Provincial Minister H B Semasinghe were also present.