Project to promote tourism in the interior of SP

by Bandula Gunasekera, Matara Staff Correspondent

The Southern Provincial Ministry of Tourism has taken measures to promote the tourist industry in the interior areas in the region under a special program.

The objective of the program was to develop the interior parts of the region with most attractive places by providing more facilities for local and foreign tourists, a spokesman for the ministry said.

The ministry has allocated Rs. 29 million for the program. In this connection steps have also been taken to train tourist guides.

Meanwhile the Department of Agriculture has initiated an expeditious program to start young farmer clubs in the Matara district.

Fourteen young farmer clubs have already been set up, out of the target of twenty seven clubs in the district under the programm, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Matara said. The motive behind the programm was to impart a wider knowledge of new technology on agricultural activities youth.

It has been decided to provide equipment and other facilities for those young farmer clubs under the programm.

In the meantime under the Wehi Diya Aruna program action has been taken to renovate dilapidated tanks in the Hambantota district, on the initiative of Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. Fourteen dilapidated rural tanks including Weheragala, Angunakolapalassa, Gonakema and Digal Pelessa will be renovated.

Over 3000 farmer families would be benefited with the renovation of the tanks. Irrigation facilities will also be provided to cultivate 2,500 acres of paddy lands that remained uncultivated due to the lack of water.

Safe environment essential in workplaces

by N. J. Fonseka Avissawella Group Correspondent

Whatever the nature of the industry, there must be a safe environment conducive for the employee to perform his duty properly and efficiently. These two factors are very necessary and every employer and employee must strictly follow them, said Athauda Seneviratna Minister of Labour and Human Resources at a meeting to mark the 'Safety Walk' held at St. Mary's College, Avissawella.

The 'Safety Walk' started at the office of the Seetavaka Industrial Park and proceeded to the venue of the meeting.

He said that this movement was formed to protect the employees and guarantee their safety and health while promoting the industrial sector to increase productivity and maintain an efficient workforce. Today with the expansion of the industrial sector and the labour force it is very necessary to adopt occupational safety methods.

Mr. Seneviratne said that he does not believe in fast unto death protest campaign, because no one fasts to death. What we need today is not fasting and strikes, but to work hard and increase productivity for the benefit of all, the country, employer and the employee.

The development of an industry depends on the cooperation of the employer and the employee.

The other important factor is discipline, without discipline nothing will prosper. He said that those are the laws laid down for the safety of the employee and protection of the working place.

The employer and the employee both must work in unity.

He said that most of our people are reluctant to follow rules laid down for the interest of both the parties.

According to traffic rules a motorcycle rider must use a helmet for his safety. But today some carry the helmet in their hands similarly drunken people are prohibited to drive vehicles. But people do it and cause damages to the public, the vehicle and many other things. Here the fault is with the driver.

He said that a factory cannot get a profit if the employees are not healthy and are incapable of doing this work.

He said that we must produce what we need and try to improve our economy. This is the only solution to reduce the cost of living.

He said, "Today we have no time to waste for strikes and fasting; we must work hard and improve our economy to bring relief to the people."

Mr. Jinove Stormer, Director I.L.O. said that accidents occur everywhere, every time many of these could be avoided by proper management. Occupational safety must be guaranteed all equipment and damaged electricity wires etc. must be removed from factories. The employer and the employee must follow the instructions given to them by the occupational Safety and Healthy Movement.

Mr. Henry Fernando secretary (SIPMA) said: "This is the Occupational Safety and Health" Week. We, of the SIPMA pay special attention to the safety measures of the employees. We have taken steps to maintain the health condition of the employees. One must see the safety of himself rather than depending on others.

Toddy, a dying industry

K. A. Perera, Wadduwa Special Correspondent

The toddy season for the year 2007 has ended in the coastal region from Panadura to Beruwala.

More than 10,000 people employed in the toddy industry are unemployed in the off season.

With the increase of price of liquor, illicit booths are doing brisk business in coastal areas of Wadduwa and Kalutara.

The toddy season will commence once again in Kalutara district from the beginning of March 2008. Meanwhile, the toddy contractors complain that there is a shortage of toddy tappers in the Kalutara district and as a result the industry has been badly affected.

The Sunday Observer understands that there is one centre at Marawila to train youth as tappers, but the number of trainees is insufficient.

Earlier there was a proposal by the government to open a centre in Kalutara district to train toddy tappers but it has not been implemented.

Toddy tapping is a money spinner, but the youth are reluctant to undergo training as the job is risky. The toddy contractors also said that the cost of production has increased due to the high cost of materials and they had to allocate a massive amount of money to commence tapping.

The labour charges are also very high. Further, there is fragmentation of coconut land for the purpose of construction of houses and as a result there is drastic reduction of coconut trees for tapping.

It was revealed that due to the high prices of coconut in the open market, the smallholders are unwilling to lease trees for tapping.

The contractors appealed to the government to increase the rate per litre of toddy to continue the industry on a profitable basis. This would benefit the government in addition to solving the unemployment problem among fishermen.

Safety bathing places to avoid crocodiles

Bandula Gunasekara, Matara and Malimbada Group Corr.

Plans are under way to build safety bathing places to eliminate the threat of crocodiles in Nilwala Ganga as a measure for the protection of lives of the people bathing in the river, said the Minister of Transport Dallas Alahapperuma.

He was speaking at the monthly meeting of the Matara District Committee at the District Secretariat, Matara.

Under the proposed plan safety bathing places will be constructed along the both banks of the Nilwala Ganga at a cost of Rs. 12.7 million, he said.

Alahapperuma said that it was the responsibility of all the chief officials of State institutions and Heads of statutory Boards to attend the meetings of district and divisional co-ordinating committees regularly to discuss the problems related to development activities and find solutions for those problems.

The Minister also instructed the District Secretary, Matara to take action on officials who did not attend the meeting.

Media Minister, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana said that steps will be taken to pay compensation to the owners and renters for their business places which were taken over to widen the Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha (Broadway road) in Matara town would be taken in due course.

The Minister of Home Affairs Chandrasiri Gajadeera said he would take action to improve all the hospitals in Matara District for the convenience of people under the Mahinda Chintana Concept as some of the hospitals specially in rural areas are in a state of closure. Chief Minister Southern Province Shan Wijelal De Silva, Mayor of Matara, Upul Nishantha and Matara District parliamentarian Jinadasa Kithulegoda also spoke.