North East resettlement and development vital
by Ananda Kannangara
[email protected]
When
the `Sunday Observer’ interviewed people on the current security
situation in the North-East, a retired Sri Lanka Army Captain
Nishantha Devapura called upon the Government to commence the
resettlement and development work as early as possible for the
well-being of at least 70 per cent people who have now returned to their
homeland after few decades.
He said, according to his eight-year experience in the Northern
battlefield, setting up of large scale industrial zones with foreign
collaboration in these areas is the only way to provide jobs to the
youth population.
“Fulfilling the youthful aspirations by starting such industrial
ventures is the only solution to bring complete liberation in the
North and the East areas and not from an armed struggle,”
Savithri Rasanayagam of Hanwella hailed the Government for
appointing a three-member Northern Province Task Force, headed by
Minister Douglas Devananda to oversee the resettlement and development
activities in the North. She said all her family members are in
Trincomalee and urged the Government to renovate infrastructure
facilities such as schools, hospitals, water supply and electricity
schemes which were damaged in the past due to the war.
Medical practitioner Dr. Kumar Dharmawardana of Agalawatta
said Task Force is immensely needed to the North to oversee the
resettlement of a large number of displaced citizens who are still being
sheltered in camps.”
Businessman, Rasa Kanapathipillai of Maradana said his native
place was Batticaloa.
He requested Government to commence development work in the North and
the East in collaboration with foreign assistance.
“If foreign nationals are invited to start business ventures in the
North and the East as in our Free Trade Zones, not only the employment
problem will be solved, but also the war situation,”
Power station Engineer, Rohan Sirimanna of Trincomalee said
that even the people in the East need lots of infrastructure facilities.
“As a resident in Trincomalee for the past five years, I would like
to inform the Government that the houses of the majority people have
been destroyed by the war and it is the prime duty to take immediate
steps to construct houses for them with the assistance of divisional
secretariats”.
Undergraduate in the Colombo University, Imszth Noordeen said
the Government alone cannot carry out the resettlement and development
activities in the North and the East and called upon the authorities to
seek the assistance of non governmental organisations and the private
sector companies too to help in this regard.
P. Sarojani of Nawalapitiya said: “I know the majority of the
children have no proper schools and therefore I urge the authorities to
give priority for providing infrastructure facilities”. Private sector
employee, Dhammika Weerakkodi asked the authorities to give
priority to the Eastern Province and not for the North.
“People from other surrounding areas are now coming in large numbers
to the East, especially after it was liberated by our security forces,
therefore I urge the Government to first commence the resettlement work
in the Eastern district”.
While commending the Government’s decision Executive in a mercantile
establishment, Denham Gunawardana wanted the Sports and Education
ministries get-together and commence a program to send sportsmen and
women from the South to North-East areas.
“This type of program will be immensely helpful to bring about
peaceful atmosphere in these two areas. The friendship thus established
will help even to stop a war situation in the future.” A resident in
Batticaloa, P. Patheepan wanted the authorities to give priority
to expedite the work on education, sanitary, transport, health since
these have been neglected during the last few decades.
Firdous Pazrook in Colombo said “Appointing a Task Force is
commendable and I hope this three-member committee will give priority to
broadbase facilities not only in the North but also in Trincomalee and
Batticaloa districts where a large number of people will benefit from
resettlement and development activities.
Pix: Vipula Amarasinghe
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