South India returnees welcome to settle in N-E
by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI
Displaced people returning from South India who wish to be resettled
in the Northern and Eastern Provinces are welcome, said Economic
Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.
Members of the Tamil Diaspora are not willing to come back to Sri
Lanka and work for the country. They continue to stay overseas so that
they could enjoy better economic opportunities, the Minister said.
Referring to 12 displaced families returning from South India
recently., the Minister said that more families that left for South
India due to LTTE terror are now returning to Sri Lanka in view of the
prevailing peace and development projects implemented in the country.
The Economic development Ministry provides assistance to such
families. A series of infrastructure development projects have been
implemented under the Uthuru Wasanthaya following the liberation of the
North from LTTE terror, the Minister said.
The aim of development projects such as Maga Neguma and Divi Neguma
is to usher in a new era of prosperity.
The Economic Development Ministry and other Ministries such as
Agriculture, Fisheries, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise
Development provide financial assistance and technical support to these
people to pick up their former professions, the Minister said.Seed and
plant material, fertiliser and agriculture equipment are provided free
for them to engage in agriculture, he said.Referring to the Divi Neguma
national program implemented by the Economic Development Ministry, the
Minister said the project has now been successfully implemented in
13,111 Grama Sevaka areas of 298 Divisional Secretary Divisions.
The supply of vegetables and fruits has sharply increased due to the
success of the Divi Neguma program. |
