View developments in the North positively

The Government has not only restored law and order in the North, but also restored democracy in the region after many years. People in the North too have been given an opportunity to elect people of their choice to run their regional administration at local government level.

Having liberated the Northern and Eastern Provinces from the clutches of LTTE terror, the Government launched an ambitious program to usher in a new era for the people in those provinces. Billions of rupees have been expended on infrastructure development projects in the North and the East and anybody visiting the area could see the vast amount of funds that have been pumped into the North after its liberation.

Regretably, certain countries and a section of the international community are still attempting to project a dismal picture of it. Some countries not only poke their snouts in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, but also pontificate on the type of governing system that we should adopt.

Most of these organisations are blissfully unaware of the real situation that prevails and the coexistence of the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others. Their chief occupation is to blow things out of proportion and raise a big hue and cry that there is an ethnic problem in Sri Lanka.

Admittedly, there could be problems faced by people living in the North and the East and they may have their own grievances. But these issues certainly do not stem from their ethnicity, but more so, perhaps due to geographical and social problems. Whatever problems faced by the Tamils in the North and the East are not uncommon to the Muslims and the Sinhalese in these two provinces. These problems are by no means juxtaposed with their ethnicity. Else, Tamils living in other parts of the country too should encounter the same problems.

Several International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) and certain Sri Lankans dependent on foreign funds have the penchant to assert that there is an ethnic problem in Sri Lanka and project a gloomy picture. Those who are beholden to INGOs are attempting to tarnish the image of the country by spreading false propaganda. To cap it all, some countries even go to the extent of advocating that Sri Lanka should adopt a federal system similar to India, which is almost 60 times larger.

In the event there are genuine problems faced by all communities in the North and the East, the Government would be only too happy to address them at its earliest. Should other countries unduly worry about the plight of Tamils living in Sri Lanka since those living in the North and the East are our own brethren? Do foreigners have more concern and love for the Northerners than the Sri Lankan leader? It is self-evident that these foreigners are shedding crocodile tears to suit their petty political agendas.

The Tamil diaspora must at least even now demonstrate a sincere interest in developing the North and the East instead of spending large sums of money on tarnishing the country's image. It was only last week that President Mahinda Rajapaksa told a meeting in Pooneryn that the Tamil diaspora, as patriotic citizens, should spend their largesse on productive activities such as developing the North, rather than spending money on spreading false propaganda.

It is high time that the Tamil diaspora sees things in its correct perspective and lends a helping hand to the people in the North and the East. The Government has launched mega development projects with the North receiving special focus.

The Government has embarked on many ambitious programs to develop the North and bring it on par with the Western Province. Numerous programs have been already implemented to improve the people's living standards and the rural economy. With the liberation of the North in May 2009, the Central Bank has disbursed Rs. 4.6 billion among those affected in the Northern Province to uplift their living conditions and promote income generating activities (IGAs) in the region.

The Central Bank allocated Rs. 3 billion in a separate line of credit called "Awakening North" which is designed exclusively to meet the needs of organisations and IGAs in the province. The Central Bank has also introduced a special Credit Guarantee Scheme to promote development credit through Participating Financial Institutions. The credit lines facilitated through the participating financial institutions will provide assistance for people to resume their former business and create other income generating activities to enhance their economy.

Credit facilities have been made available for people under different categories in the agriculture, livestock, fisheries, small and medium sector enterprises (SMEs) and micro business sectors.

The success of similar programs, implemented after liberating the Eastern Province, is now evident. People in the East are now making a tangible contribution to the national coffers. Why can't these so-called champions of human rights and the saviours of the Tamils see the positive side, and moreover, the sincere efforts taken by the Government to secure a better tomorrow for the people living in the North and the East? There are several countries making a mountain of a molehill in the international arena purporting to be the godfathers and champions of human rights. Are they totally blind to see the measures taken by the Government with an open mind?

Could we ever forget the great humanitarian operation, successfully conducted by Sri Lanka's valiant Security Forces, which rescued over 600,000 people trapped in the North and the East? These hapless civilians who were forcibly held as a human shield by LTTE terrorists, were subjected to untold misery under the LTTE's terror. The Security Forces took incalculable risks and liberated these innocent civilians from the impending jaws of death. Had it not been for those great sacrifices by the true sons of our soil, those civilians would still have been languishing under the LTTE.

The LTTE which projected itself as the sole representative of the Tamils did little or nothing for its own community, save the assassination of many eminent Tamil scholars, political, social and religious leaders. It was the LTTE which put a spoke in Sinhala-Tamil harmony to achieve its political goals. With the country united, the Government has created a conducive atmosphere for all communities to live in peace and harmony.