Deyata Kirula, a development catalyst

Dharma Sri Abeyratne in Ampara

The Deyata Kirula national development drive creates a strong platform for overall development of the country through an attitudinal change, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister and Deyata Kirula exhibition committee chairman Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said.

The minister said the Deyata Kirula exhibition is a gateway for rapid development since the major focus is on the overall development of the districts selected for the exhibition, and adjoining districts.

The government is upgrading infrastructure and living standards in Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts. Massive development projects have been implemented in four districts, including Ampara at Rs 59,387 million to coincide with the Deyata Kirula 2013 national exhibition, Siyambalapitiya said.

The minister said on the President’s advice, the Deyata Kirula exhibition organising committee, took step to showcase the country’s ancient and proud history through the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

“The exhibition paves the way for a series of development activities in the four districts, where infrastructure facilities are being upgraded, while generating employment opportunities. Of the allocation, Rs 45,375 million has been earmarked solely for the development of identified development projects, including road development activities,” he said.

Rs 3,062 million has been set apart for the development of the education sector, Rs 1,166 million for health, Rs 22,013 million for road development, Rs 4,064 million for irrigation, Rs 7,208 million for water supply projects, Rs 3,056 million for livelihood development and Rs 4,156 million for electrification projects, including rural electrification, Minister Siyambalapitiya said.

Special attention has been focused on environment protection with an allocation of Rs 246 million. The development programme, includes carpeting of several roads and providing water and electricity. Hospitals are renovated with additions and improvements to other health sector related needs. Under the health sector development initiative, a new Medical and Paediatric Ward for the Ampara General Hospital, constructed in line with the Deyata Kirula national development programme was opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday.

The Medical and Paediatric Ward was constructed at Rs 17 million fulfilling a long felt need for the district. Parallel to the opening of the hospital, President Rajapaksa distributed 374 ambulances among hospitals in the district. All rural hospitals in the Eastern Province received ambulances.

Accordingly, 27 rural hospitals, which underwent severe hardship in patient transportation received an ambulance each, worth over Rs 7.4 million. The government allocated Rs 2,805 million towards providing ambulances equipped with modern technology and facilities.

Several water supply schemes, costing Rs 7,208 million and self employment projects for Samurdhi families are among the major development projects. In addition, several pipe borne water schemes benefiting 400 households have been completed with community participation.

A micro finance scheme has been introduced to Samurdhi recipients for self-employment projects. Many dry lands are irrigated by several small scale irrigation projects. Moreover, a few dilapidated irrigation tanks are being renovated to benefit farmer families and to cultivate 850 acres of paddy lands. Fulfilling a long-felt need, the Mahiyangana-Ampara road has been completed along with other development projects.