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| Sunday, 17 February 2002 |
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Politics |  |
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Minister at A-9 road opening: Ranil's govt will usher in peace by E. Weeraperuma and Vavuniya North Corr Bandula Seneviratne The Minister of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology, Milinda Moragoda said at the opening ceremony of the A-9 highway in Vanni that the government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe would do everything to create peace in the country. Minister Moragoda along with Samurdhi Project Minister R. A. D. Sirisena and Vanni Development Minister Noordeen Mashoor and the officials from the Vavuniya Secretariat witnessed the civilians happily walking along the A-9 highway which was not accessible for the past fifteen years. When the A-9 highway was opened about one-hundred people were seen coming with children with their bag and baggages from the uncleared areas to cross to Vavuniya in the early hours of the morning long before the official opening of the road. Among those waiting to cross the barrier were some Catholic priests and nuns. Mothers with babies and certain others old and feeble were cautiously treading the road as there were warnings not to step into the uncleared section within a range of 250 metres which might have been laid with anti-personal mines. A number of vain attempts had been made in the recent past to open this stretch of road. But we should not be complacent that we were able to open this road, because it is not our final goal. These measures were only a precursor to build confidence in the people. The opening of Kandy-Killinochchi Road is a significant milestone in the peace process. It is a positive sign of walking hand in hand by both the armed forces and Vavuniya Kachcheri staff. If we do not march together our attempts will be a failure, said Mr. Moragoda. |
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