Mega development plan for Trincomalee

Shirjaiv Sirimane in Trincomalee.

The government has proposed an accelerated economic development program for the Trincomalee district to be commenced next year.

The Minister of Enterprise Development and investment Promotion Rohitha Bogollagama who visited Trincomalee yesterday told the 'Sunday Observer' that all plans had been drawn up for a mega development program in the district. "Community empowerment and infrastructure development will be given the priory," he said.

The Minister said that the area had been neglected for decades and it was President Mahinda Rajapaksha who spearheaded the development program.

The construction of roads has already begun and 27 kilometer stretch of the new road leading to the proposed Coal Power plant has been built.

He said that there had been many pledges for Foreign Direct investment for the area.

"The Board of Investment is mobilized to meet the requirements of prospective investors. A regional office will also be set up in China Bay next year," said the Minister.

The work of the new Industrial zone has also commenced and the Minister visited the site to monitor the progress during his tour yesterday.

A series of Micro level projects are also expected to be implemented. Plans have been finalized for the construction of a new market.

"The President has identified this as a priority since the old market was bombed by LTTE," the Minister said.

He said a mega tourism development project is also in the pipeline. The facilities of the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Bank (SME) too would be extended to Trincomalee and public service would be upgraded to provide a better service. He said that a unique feature was that all political parties were working in unison towards the proposed mega development for Trincomalee.

With the proposed Coal Power plant in Trincomalee for which the agreement was signed between the Indian investors and the President last week the total foreign investments in Trincomalee including the Prima, Mitsuei and IOC would pass the US $ 2 million mark.