India's cooperation vital for N, E rebuilding - Basil

India extended its fullest cooperation for North East resettlement and reconstruction programmes and in rebuilding the conflict affected two provinces India's assistance was a vital factor Senior Advisor to the President and Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa exchanging mementos with Indian Culture, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja

The minister said so when he met the visiting Indian Culture, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister Kumari Selja at the Economic Development Ministry on Tuesday.

He thanked the Indian Minister Kumari Selja for leading the delegation that brought the Sacred Relics of Buddha from India. This event will signify the longstanding close relationship between the two countries.

"I paid my homage to the Sacred Kapila Wasthu relics on Sunday. Importance of the event has been exhibited by the thousand of the devotees standing in long queues for many hours to pay homage," Minister said.

The Indian minister said she visited Mannar in conflict affected area to inaugurate the restoration works at the Thiruketheeswaram Temple and was able to observe many development works taking place in the area. She said rehabilitation and reconstruction projects started with the Indian assistance in that area are progressing well and thanked the minister and the government for efficiency in running these projects.

Basil Rajapaksa said immediately after the end of the conflict government started rehabilitation, resettlement and reconstruction works. That was a big task as the country required man power, money and equipments in large scale to carry out these works. Several countries, donor agencies and voluntary organizations helped Sri Lanka for this drive. Among them, India has taken a keen interest at the every stages of the resettlement and reconstruction programme and extended its fullest cooperation for it. First task was to feed and accommodate IDPS in the temporary camps.

Then resettle them in the conflict affected area and to provide them with houses, water and electricity and basic requirements. Then to

develop infrastructure in order to facilitate the livehood development of the people. India helped at every stage s of this process providing basic equipments and food for IDP camps, donating 50000 houses for resettlement, helping to build hospitals, Schools and irrigation facilities. India helped demining activities, donated tool kits to the farmers, provided financial assistance for some projects. Help extended by India is magnificent said Minister. Indian High commissioner for Sri Lanka Ashok Kantha said he was able to observe the many changes and the movements after the end of conflict. Some areas were totally destroyed by the conflict. But now

everything has changed, livelihood is restored, houses were rebuilt and new development works are visible everywhere.

Minister Basil Rajpaksa said along with the A 9 road construction works, Northern railway reconstruction works were started and electricity transmission line is built. New bridges were constructed and now whole the area is linked with high ways. S. B. Divarathna, Secretary, Presidential Task Force and Prof. Sunanda Madduma Bandara Director General of the Ministry of Economic Development also participated at this discussion. Picture by Chaminda Hittatiya