Development drive in Batticaloa pays dividends - Deputy Minister Hisbullah

By Naalir Jamaldeen

"Poverty alleviation, improving the economic and living standards of people who live below the poverty line will be the main focus of my Ministry for 2016. Money will be spent on self-employment programs, Deputy Economic Development Minister M.L.A.M. Hisbullah said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

He said that the Eastern province has achieved tremendous development in the past five years.

People victimised by the LTTE have rallied round President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Many Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims support the President. His victory at the forthcoming election can't be obstructed.

"Crossovers will have no impact on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's victory. He will win in the Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara districts. Now people are confident that the President will do what he says", Deputy Minister Hisbullah said.

Q: Can you tell us about the development taking place in the Eastern Province after 2009?

A: The obstacles which remained in developing the province were lifted, eliminating terrorism. As a result a large number of major scale infrastructure and livelihood development projects were implemented across the province.

Large scale irrigation, agriculture and drinking water supply projects were among them. A major portion of the development work implemented in the province are over now.

Main roads destroyed and damaged by the LTTE were developed and carpeted. Access roads and inter roads which link the villages with the cities were also developed. A large number of bridges including Kalladi, Panichchankerny and Verugal bridges were constructed during the second term of President Rajapaksa.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended yeoman service to the people in the Eastern province in a period less than five years.

There are over 1,000 schools in the province and 20 percent of them were closed until 2009 due to LTTE atrocities.

All schools which were closed have been developed and re-opened after 2009. Almost all schools in the province received new buildings and required facilities. Mahindodaya Technical Laboratories have been given to schools in the province under the 1,000 schools development program. The education sector has also been developed.

A large amount of money was spent last year to develop University facilities in the province. Sufficient money has been allocated to improve the education sector through the 2015 Budget

Facilities on hospitals in the province have been improved. Hospitals which were closed due to the LTTE threat have also been developed and reopened. Almost all hospitals in the province got new buildings, equipment, doctors, staff and other essential facilities.

The Weber Stadium in Batticaloa is being developed according to international standard at a cost of Rs. 400 million.

Smaller grounds in the province have also been developed to improve sports skills of rural youth. Recreation facilities have been developed while setting up eco parks and environment parks in various places in the Batticaloa district. Kaththankudi and Batticaloa have been beautified. A museum is being constructed in Batticaloa.

Over 95 percent villages in the province have electricity. The remaining villages will also be provided with electricity soon.

The fisheries and agriculture sectors are developing rapidly. Tanks which were in a dilapidated condition were also renovated. A large number of dams, rivers, bunds and irrigation canals were constructed while renovating the existing irrigation canals. Almost all the cultivable lands in the province have come under the plough during the Maha and Yala Seasons.

Now over 50,000 acres of cultivable lands which had been abandoned due LTTE threats have also come under plough in the Yala and Maha season. Many paddy stores have been built in the Batticaloa district while renovating the existing stores. Agriculture centres which were dilapidated were renovated at a cost of millions of rupees.

Fishing gear including boats, nets and life jackets were given to fishermen by the Government. A large number of fisheries centres have been set up in the province to help the fishery community.

Q: Can you elaborate about livestock development in the Batticaloa district?

A: Dairy farmers in the Batticaloa district contribute to 25 percent out of the total milk production of this country. The Government has given dairy cows to farmers. Many chilling centres have been set up in the district to collect milk from dairy farmers.

Q: Are you confident that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will secure more votes in the province?

A: Of, course, I am confident that the President will secure more votes in the Eastern province than the Opposition.

President Rajapaksa will record a landslide victory in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts. During the last Presidential election the Tamil community was against President Rajapaksa. Now they support President Rajapaksa realising that the district has achieved major development during his second term.

The Muslim community in the Eastern province has rallied round President Rajapaksa. Nobody can obstruct the victory of President Rajapaksa in the forthcoming election.

Now the people in the province are reaping the harvest of peace. They are not ready to lose it and go back to that dark era again.

People are aware of the development that has taken place in the district after the elimination of terrorism. Now over 60 percent of the Tamils are with the President.

We never expected that the Tamil Community would work for the Government. People are not concerned about party, colour or religious difference.

They needed permanent peace and that has been achieved under the governance of President Rajapaksa. Due to terrorism the people lost everything including lives of loved ones.Now people enjoy peace and freedom.

Q: You were the Deputy Child Development and Women's Affairs Minister. What were the welfare programs implemented in the Batticaloa district for women and children?

A: There are a large number of widows specially war widows in the district. Various programs were implemented with the assistance from the President for women and children. Self-employment assistance was also given to women who live below the poverty line and widows in the district.

My Ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indian Government and it assisted us in various ways. A training centre has been set up in Batticaloa to provide self-employment training to women.

We could minimise child abuse in the district. Child care and health centres have been set up in various places in the district. A Women's Desk has also been set up in all Police stations in the district to reduce harassment against women.

Q: Can you tell us about the infrastructure and livelihood development projects implemented in the Batticaloa district under the program?

A: We have spent Rs. 50,000 million in the Batticaloa district in the past five years to develop livelihood and infrastructure facilities.

Q: Can you tell us about the agriculture sector development in the district?

A: During the war on terrorism, the agriculture sector took a backseat. After the restoration of peace in the country the agriculture sector started blooming. The Government has provided all facilities to improve the agriculture sector in the past five years. The Government is committed to develop the district which was severely affected by the war on terrorism.

Q: Can you elaborate the programs which have been implemented in the Batticaloa district under the 'Divi Neguma' rural development drive?

A: Under the Divi Neguma, markets are being developed to sell the products of Divi Neguma beneficiaries. Some houses are also being constructed under the same program for the people who live below the poverty line.

We have implemented a large number of self-employment programs in the district. Machinery, equipment and other assistance have been provided. A large number of people in the Batticaloa district were given equipment to start self-employment projects under the 'Divi Neguma' accelerated rural development drive.

Q: Will crossovers of Ministers, Provincial Council and Local Government members have any impact on the victory of President Rajapaksa?

A: No damage can be caused to the Government by such crossovers. Now the people are not bothered about crossovers and they will have no impact on the victory of President Rajapaksa. He has already won the election. People across the country have rallied round President Rajapaksa.

Q: What kind of programs are to be implemented through Budget 2015?

A: My Ministry focus attention on to implement community based development projects. Alleviation of poverty takes prominence out of the programs which are to be implemented by the Economic Development Ministry.

We plan to invest the money on self-employment programs. We also plan to provide proper houses to people. Plans are afoot to provide drinking water facilities to people and sanitation facilities to schools. Steps have been taken to provide buildings to preschools.

My Ministry is focusing on building the economy and increasing the income of every family in the Eastern province.

Q: Can you tell us about projects implemented from the funding of the Asian Development Bank, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank?

A: Many projects have been implemented with funding from the World Bank. Building fishery harbours, developing roads, improving the agriculture sector, renovating tanks and providing anchoring facilities for fishing vessels are among them. Large projects are already in the pipeline with the support of the World Bank. We have implemented various programs with funding from JICA and theEuropean Union.

Q: Can you tell us about the present political situation in the country?

A: There is no issue regarding the political situation. President Rajapaksa has a vote base extending from grassroot level to the urban areas. People at the grassroots are with the President.