Attracts more tourists than any other region:

Spectacular growth in the North

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

North rejuvenates. Evidence is seen every nook and corner of the province. Accommodating 5.8% of the entire Sri Lankan population, the Northern Province is showing an amazing growth economically as well as socially. Spread across 8,847 square kilometres the Northern Province, mostly the Jaffna peninsula, is attracting more travellers than to any part of the country. Its main economic sectors - i.e. agriculture, fisheries, livestock, industries and trade - are becoming spectacularly successful.

As of mid October, 320,156 Internally Displaced Persons were resettled in all five districts of the Northern Province. Government's special program for the North 'Uthuru Wasanthaya' (Northern Spring) is in full swing. This year, as of date, 632 development projects worth approximately Rs. 1,654 million were completed successfully. Last year around 2,630 projects worth approximately Rs. 3,803 million was completed. Today going beyond the immediate relief requirements the Northern Province is heading for a brighter tomorrow armed with a practical and effective five year plan.

Agriculture

Farmers being rapidly resettled and along with the continuous support extended by the Government by providing quality seed paddy free of charge, a helping hand in land preparations and subsidies on fertilizer. Rehabilitation of irrigation tanks and canals as well as accelerated de-mining and clearing jungle growth in abandoned paddy fields, greatly contributed to the today's successful harvest in the North. At the present speed of recovery the Local Government plans to increase the paddy cultivating areas up to 100,000 hectares that would produce a massive harvest of more than 300,000 Metric tons. Similarly farmers cultivating other food crops were encouraged to grow chilies, maize, red onions, green gram, black gram and ground nut with a large contribution to the local market. Within four years the Government has distributed 324,600 bushels of seed for these crops. Establishing fruit cultivating and exporting villages, promotion of agro based micro level enterprises are two of the major plans for a flourishing agriculture in the years to come. Four major irrigation schemes are already re-constructed along with 39 minor schemes making fallow lands suitable for cultivation. As seeping of salt water from the sea to land areas is a significant problem especially in the North, salt water extrusion schemes play a major role in preserving proper condition of the soil for cultivation. As of to date, 16 salt water extrusion schemes are rehabilitated in the North.

Within the next two years the plan is to reinstate 42 major and medium scale irrigation and drainage schemes and rehabilitate 28 minor irrigation schemes.

Education

Undoubtedly the shining star of 'Northern Spring' (Vadakkin Wasantham) development program would be the education sector. With the hard work of the enthusiastic school children and the greater input of the Government the education sector in the Northern Province is growing with better results at national level cut off examinations each year.

Out of the total 1015 schools in the Province 847 are functioning. And 13,634 teachers are engaged in educating 243,405 students in all five districts.

"More than 49,000 children get back to school reviving their education after being resettled in their homes with families," Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said. According to the Governor 237 schools are completely repaired at a cost of approximately Rs. 280 million. Around 3,800 children who were not attending schools have been absorbed in to formal schooling.

"Computers and accessories worth around Rs. 200 million are being distributed to all secondary level schools," the Governor added. Giving special attention to the children of resettled families a psycho-social support system is implemented along with a special accelerated learning program for these resettled children in order to be in par with the national education levels," he added explaining the hard efforts put by the Government. While strengthening the managerial level in the Provincial education institutes with more Government officers, principals and teachers the Northern Province works on a five year plan to uplift the education system. Reconstruction of damaged schools , computer resource centres, Zonal Education offices, Early Child Development Centres, special Education Centres, Strengthening of Regional English Support Centre in Mannar, Vavuniya and Jaffna and establishing bi-lingual and tri-lingual education in all zones are within this plan including establishing two sports Schools in Vavuniya and Jaffna.

Buildings of hospitals, that were totally demolished by the LTTE activities a year ago, today stands proudly with fully furbished interiors extending a better service to the community. Traces of the painful gloomy past are getting wiped out slowly yet steadily.

Infrastructure

Rebuilding the healthcare sector of the province 51 new buildings were constructed for hospitals, operation theatres, wards and accommodation for medical and health staff spending Rs. 319 million. Repair and renovations of 45 damaged hospitals, 12 maternity wards and labour rooms, 24 preventative healthcare institutions and quarters for medical officers have been built at a cost of Rs. 421 million.

Hospitals and other medical institutes are equipped with medical equipment worth Rs. 223 million. Medical equipment worth Rs. 168 million are to be supplied to General Hospitals in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. Planning to complete by 2012 the Northern Province will be getting five more divisional hospitals, OPD blocks for 20 hospitals, 12 MOH offices and a ward complex with 200 beds while upgrading laboratory facilities in all the hospitals of the province.

Once abandoned roads are being repaired, linking even the most rural village to the main highways. So far, 705 km of roads are completed in the rural areas while another 437 km is under construction at a cost of approximately Rs. 293 million.

Another 349 kilometres of C and D class roads and 100 kilometres of Municipal & Urban Council roads are to be rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 6,000 million within the next 3 years. Feasibility studies are underway on 400 kilometres of roads in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts to be repaired.Providing electricity power from Vavuniya to Jaffna a 132 KV Transmission Line is being put up along with two Sub stations in Kilinochchi and Chunnakam in Jaffna providing electricity for the national grid. The entire project cost estimated to be around Rs. 6,760 million. Another electricity distribution development project is also in the plan for 2011/2012.

The Cooperative sector gets expanded day by day providing more facilities to rural areas. Rs. 100 million is allocated for the cooperative societies to re-establish their damaged buildings. To reactivate defunct coop societies the Government has allocated Rs.33 million. Special livelihood programs are conducted for woman headed families concerning the high number of widows in the resettled areas.

'Wadakkin Wasantham' or the 'Uthuru Wasanthaya' was the first well planned mega development drive the Government launched, on the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa after the mass exodus of the Internally Displaced Civilians, following the liberation of the entire Northern Province by our valiant forces. The North also receives the same attention as the South. In fact it seems to be more! The mega development drive is no exception. In its efforts to rise from the debris, left over by the devastating terrorism, this is the Government's master plan to rebuild the Northern Province and restore normalcy in the communities.