Econ. Ministry spends Rs. 109 mn. on Kilinochchi projects

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa inaugurated on Saturday, January 19, several new projects completed at a cost of 109 million in the Kilinochchi District.

Minister Rajapaksa also bought the first stamp issued to mark the events.

The projects comprise the Kilinochchi main post office, Dryarukulam tank and bridge and the Kanagambiyayikulam tank all of which are part of the Economic Development Ministry's accelerated scheme to reconstruct the North under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme in accordance with the Mahinda Chinthana Vision for economic development.

The ministry spent Rs. 50 million on reconstructing the Kilinochchi main post office which was completely destroyed during the war.

Reconstruction of the post office began on January 11, 2011. Coming under its supervision are 11 sub-post offices and the number of people it serves is 150,000.

The main post office employs 77 persons who handle nearly 5,000 letters and parcels per day.

The work includes registration, transporting/distributing letters, parcels, express letters and money orders.

The Economic Development Ministry spent Rs.33 million to reconstruct and repair Dryarukulam tank and bridge which had brought relief to over 2000 members of 325 families.

The 270 acre-tank with a 956 metre-long bund can help to cultivate 110 acres of agricultural land.

The Dryarukulam Bridge, which serves nearly 150 families, is 100 metres long and five metres wide.

The reconstruction cost of the Kanagambiyayikulam tank is Rs. 26 million and it now serves nearly 150 families.

This 260 acre-tank with a 1323 metre-long bund, can help to cultivate 90 hectare of land.

After inaugurating the completed projects, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa distributed relief assistance costing over Rs. 2 million among 820 families affected by the recent floods in the Kilinochchi District.

The relief items included bed sheets, towels, drinking water, rice, coconuts, lentils (dhal), canned fish and school equipment.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Murugesu Chandrakumar MP, Governor North G.A. Chandrasiri and Yali Pibidemu Project Director/Engineer S.K. Liyanage were among the large crowd which attended the events.