Govt expedites Uturu Wasanthaya program

L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The government has accelerated the demining process in the Northern Province to expedite the rehabilitation and reconstruction program Uturu Wasanthaya said Secretary to the Ministry of Nation Building, W. K. K. Kumarasiri.

The demining operation is being carried out with funding and support of several donors including the government of Japan, the United States and the European Commission Humanitarian Office, he said.The secretary said that the systematic irrigation system based on Yodaweva, Mankulam and Iranamadu reseviors, the railway tracks, and the roads have been destroyed by the LTTE to construct bunkers, armouries and defence bunds. The whole area was prepared by the LTTE as a battlefield, he said.Kumarasiri said that the A9 Road from Jaffna to Kandy was reopened and the A32 Road from Mannar to Jaffna will be completed soon.

The Mankulam Electricity supply project is also in progress, with the assistance of donor countries and donor agencies. A series of infrastructure development projects and community restoration and development projects are being implemented in the North and East he said.