‘Over Rs one m spent on each Northern family’

* Unprecedented development in Northern Province

* More allocations to strengthen reconciliation process

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The government has spent over Rs one million per family in the Northern Province during the past two and a half years under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme on infrastructure development to revive the devastation caused by terrorism, Northern Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said yesterday. Chandrasiri told the Daily News the Northern Province has approximately a one and half million population and the government’s allocations to uplift the living standards of those people were enormous under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He also stated the government initiated massive development projects in the Northern Province since the day those people were liberated from the vicious grip of terrorism in 2009 resulting in a considerably high development rate compared to the other parts of the country.

The Northern Governor said the development rate in the country was 8.3 percent while the development rate in the Northern Province should be more than two fold that rate. He added that the government’s wish is to develop all bridges, roads, water supply, electricity supply, transport service, including the railway track etc in the Northern Province, which were devastated by the terrorists during the three decade long conflict.

He also said though allocations were made during the past two and half years,the government would make more allocations in the coming years for the development of the province which will strengthen the reconciliation process. He added the government has also made allocations to initiate programmes to develop the tourism industry there.