Eighty-five percent of loans spent on developing North - Basil

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said on Tuesday that the government was committed to bringing peace and prosperity to all Sri Lankans and stressed that 85 percent of foreign loans to the country was spent on developing the North and resettling people displaced by the war. Minister Rajapaksa was addressing the large crowd which attended the opening of the first stage of the 106 km Medawachchiya-Talaimannar railway line at the Madu Road railway station. With the completion of the first stage of 43 km of railway track trains can now reach Madu from Medawachchiya. Reconstruction of the line began on March 27, 2011 after LTTE terrorism caused the train service to stop in 1991.

The second stage of 63 km will be completed within the next four months and is scheduled to be opened on September 23. (The British colonial government introduced railways to Sri Lanka in 1867)

Following the reconstruction of the line up to Madhu, the first train left Anuradhapura at 9.48 am on May 14 and reached the Madhu Road station at 10.48 am via Medawachchiya, passing the Periyakulam and Wedtikulam stations. Throughout the journey, the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith while Hindu, Catholic and Islamic religious dignitaries gave their blessings.

Joining Minister Basil Rajapaksa on the train ride were Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ashok Shri Kantha and General Manager Railways B.A. Ariyaratne.

People standing on either side of the railway line cheered as the train passed by. Thousands of Catholics who wish to attend this year’s Madhu festival can now travel by train to Madhu unlike in the past when pilgrims had to seek the LTTE’s permission to visit the Madhu shrine.

Minister Rajapaksa further said re-opening this railway line after 23 years was a historic occasion. He recalled the LTTE domination of the area during the farcical ceasefire period until the President defeated Tiger terrorism and paved the way for peace and prosperity, although some people are trying to ignore the past. He expressed confidence that the new railway line would help strengthen economic, social and cultural ties between the people of the South and North.

He added that the Government succeeded in resettling 300,000 people who were in refugee camps in the North. He emphasized the need for everyone to work as one for the development of the North. The Minister further said that government was not working with elections in mind. It was focusing not only on roads and railways but also on education, agriculture, health and economic development. Some people would try to create dissension and friction at the coming election but the government would continue to work for the welfare of the people.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said Minister Rajapaksa’s development programme under the guidance of the President was a great strength to the Economic Development. The Minister also thanked the Indian Commissioner Ashok Sri Kantha and the Ircon international Ltd, India for their contributions. The Indian HC, Ministers Douglas Devananda and Rishad Badurdeen and General Manager Railways B.A. Ariyaratne also spoke.

North Central Province Chef Minister S.M. Ranjit, Education Services Minister Duminda Disanayake, Economic Development Deputy Minister S.M. Chandrasena and Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri were among the large number of invitees at the ceremony.