President Rajapaksa,ideal leader to guide the nation

B. W. Eheliyagoda - Kegalle Special Correspondent

The country has got the ideal leader to guide this thrice blessed land at the eleventh hour, said a prominent educationalist and former Director of Education of Kegalle Education Zone J. M. Premaratne.

He was speaking at an interview with him pertaining to the present government, its administration, implementation of its plans and foremost of all its helmsman and his guidance of the ship of state and his influence nationally and internationally.

Premaratne said: "We Sri Lankans are endowed to a lengthy history of our own for over 2550 years, from King Vijaya to President Mahinda Rajapaksa (from 543 BC to 2007 AD). This island has a recorded history unbroken, administered by over 200 rulers or administrators.

From 1815 to 1948 AD British ruled this country for 133 years. "Now, Sri Lanka is sixty years since obtaining its independence from the British administration.

"Throughout the history of this land the Sinhala Kings built numerous tanks or reservoirs and encouraged paddy cultivation. These tanks or major and minor tanks or reservoirs are found throughout the country. The hydrolic civilization commended by King Pandukhabhaya lasted and was predominant from its inception from 377 BC upto present day.

King Devanampiyatissa was responsible for his first foreign policy and peaceful international relationships with Emperor Dharmasoka of India.

"There were disastrous periods from 17th century to 19th century owing to the intervention of foreign powers but our Sinhala rulers fought bravely with the enemy and protected the independence and sovereignty of the country.

"Having obtained full independence in 1948 the country was under the heroic leaderships of D. S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, J. R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa and the present leader President Mahinda Rajapaksa under whom the country is guided well in the preservation of its independence and sovereignty leading and guiding the country towards peace and prosperity where all ethnic groups could live together in harmony and brotherhood as children of mother Lanka under one parasol.

Today President Rajapaksa boldly faces particularly three challenges to be solved and there is no doubt he (President) will clear the country from all these hurdles and obstructions very soon and usher in a period of peace and economic freedom to all who have made Sri Lanka their motherland.

"The challenges referred are (I) Terrorism both in South and North. (II) Economic crisis including the development programme and the increasing cost of living. (III) Bribes and corruption in government sector and underworld thuggery.

"According to President Rajapaksa this country needs a settlement with perfect honour based on the "Mahinda Concept" and there should never be a division of the country.

"Though there prevails terrorism, the development programs will go ahead unhampered, all human rights will be respected and guaranteed, village development and expansion programs will be continued, Maga Neguma, Gama Neguma, Jatika Saviya, Gami Diriya, grow more food campaigns etc. will go ahead cutting through all barriers and obstacles.

The masses cherish and support these ideals and programs to the hilt.

"The public everywhere feel the country at a crisis ridden period, is, safe in the hands of President Rajapaksa who often says that terrorism is no barrier for development.

"This attitude of President Rajapaksa has earned applause from all quarters of the country, including all ethnicity".

Premaratne concluded saying at a disastrous period the unseen forces of nature have directed a hardworking, industrious and capable, and bold and benevolent leader in the calibre of President Mahinda rajapaksa to guide and lead the country defeating the ruthless terrorists.

Jungles cleared farmers hit

Kurunegala Central Special Corr.

The clearing of the jungle is a serious hindrance to the flow of water in Kospoluoya, Maoya, Meeoya and Deduruoya in the Kurunegala district, Vayamba Central Environmental Authority warned.

Villagers have begun to cultivate their crops after clearing the jungle that feed these waterways, but the Irrigation Department has turned a blind eye to the continuing threat, the Authority alleged. Tube wells too have dried up.

Sand-mining has, added insult to injury with the recent torrential rains causing erosion of river banks.

Chena cultivation has caused damage to the Thampana reservoir which supplies water to Kurunegala town, including the hospital.

War affects coir industry

K. A. Perera, Wadduwa Special Correspondent

The unsettled conditions in the North and the East have hit the coir industry in the Kalutara region, in the fishing villages of Pohaddaramulla, Waskaduwa and Potupitiya as the producers find it difficult to transport their goods to the war torn areas of North and the East.

The coir cottage industry provides additional income to the fishermen in Pohaddaramulla, Waskaduwa and Kalutara, during the lean periods when the sea becomes too risky, coir rope manufacturers said.

They also said that with the availability of Synthetic products in the open market, the demand for the coir ropes and other materials have dwindled.

The coir industry is also a source of self-employment for the youth in the villages and young girls engaging in producing coir ropes, brooms and many other items used for domestic purposes, is a common sight in villages.

The Government should intervene to restrict the import synthetic materials to encourage local manufacturers, coir workers said.

The coir manufacturing cottage industry could be developed as a money spinner to the fishing community who live in abject poverty, if the government take the initiative to open a centre to purchase these items and display them attractively for the visitors to buy them at a reasonable price.

Drink boiled water as precaution

Makandura Group Corp.

Dysentery, diarrhoea and similar communicable diseases are on the increase in Pasgoda area, said Matara Deputy Director of Health Services. Dr. Dinushi Gunawardene addressing a workshop on agriculture held at Ruhuna University recently.

The actual number of such cases would be higher if the patients treated by private medical institutions and indigenous physicraus are included, she stressed.

People should get used to the habit of consuming boiled water as a precaution, she warned the public.

Minister lauded for importing new carriages

K.A. Perera - Wadduwa Special Correspondent

The commuters of coast line railway have welcomed and thanked the Minister of Transport including the officials of the Railway for importing new compartments from China to provide better transport facilities.

With the operation of new compartments attached to "Ruhunu Kumari" the Department of Railways should ensure the safety of the new compartments by re-appointing of vigilence committees, which remained inactive during the last few months.

These committees not set up from among the regular commuters. They were called upon to look for suspicious characters and inform the authorities immediately.

At present these vigilance committees remain inactive and the committee members say that there is no co-operation from travellers in crowded trains.

They were entrusted to inspect parcels regularly considering the safety of the passengers.

The station masters were entrusted to appoint vigilance committees.

Local material for school uniform

(Kurunegala North Group Corr. Stanley Seneviratne)

Five small-scale and large-scale factories have undertaken to manufacture school uniform material to meet the year 2008 demand, an official of the Textile Ministry told the media on Sunday.

The Government has apportioned Rs. 500 million among the five factory owners to procure machinery for this purpose.

The total uniform requirement for the year 2008 is estimated at 10.5 million metres of which 8 million metres are for school uniforms.

The official also said that only a part of the total requirements could be met locally within the specified period due to the limited capacity and the balance will be imported as usual.

"The local textile manufacturing industry has the potential to meet the present school uniform requirement, provided the decadent indigenous textile industry is revived, he said.

The manufacture of materials locally for school uniforms has helped to save substantial foreign exchange to reduce the cost of imported material.