Easterners' dream a reality today

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

It was like yesterday when the Eastern Province was liberated from the LTTE's ruthless control. Our valiant soldiers unchained the East and its people from the clutches of the Tiger terrorists in July 2007. This stands remarkable in the history of our Sri Lankan military victories.

Today, people of the East are enjoying their lives and their freedom with gratitude to our brave soldiers. A dream of the country became a reality with the great leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Commander-in-Chief.

Prabhakaran closed the Mavilaru anicut unveiling his true barbaric nature withholding the water from more than 30,000 innocent people who were mostly farmers.

The soil started cracking and paddy fields were destroyed as if in a drought. The only request people made then from the Government was to save their water resources by bringing in liberation from Tiger terror. Soon after the total East was liberated from the ruthless grip of the LTTE Tigers, the Government initiated short and long term development programs to bring back the glorious past of this valuable land and its people.

Towards the development of a country the economic, social and cultural improvements contributed on a mega scale. Hence, in order to do so, it is the duty of the Government to provide the infrastructure facilities, bring in a peaceful environment for the people to live in and uplift the economic standards of the people. It is a difficult process to rise up from a land where LTTE destroyed almost everything that belonged to the people of this country.

Being one of the most beautiful provinces of our island nation, the East is blessed with a blue green ocean, pearly white sands, a natural harbour, a fertile soil and many more of those known and unknown treasures. It never lost its beauty despite being messed around by one of the world's worst terrorist groups that ever existed, the LTTE.

Easterners, though being hit by both man made and natural disasters, seem to be the most fortunate among all Sri Lankans.

In mapping out the implementation strategy of the Eastern Revival, the area specific development programs have been identified as an effective way to meet the development needs and priorities for the respective districts.

These projects also connect to the national level including mega infrastructure development projects. These aim at improving the connectivity with other regions. The Eastern revival also focuses on livelihood development which aims at expanding livelihood opportunities and improving the living conditions of households at grassroot levels. These activities mainly focus on 'Maga Neguma', electricity, drinking water and irrigation.

The main component of the Eastern Reawakening includes linking the supportive infrastructural projects which are aimed at improving mobility and accessibility at regional levels as well as improving the capacity of the regions to link with the mainstream.

Development

Development takes place in Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee in an equitable manner taking into account the population density, territorial extent, prevalence of poverty and the status of underdevelopment.

Road development projects are progressing under the Asian Development Bank and World Bank schemes.

Reconstruction and repair of A5, A15 roads were fully completed while roads connecting Nilaweli and Ilankaithurai, Kalmunai - Ampara road via Batticaloa, road that links with Trincomalee via Batticaloa have been repaired along with number of other main and rural roads. The public bus transportation system has been restored.

The total road network that leads to Dambulla, Habarana, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa via Walachchenai are upgraded as well as roads to Colombo, Kandy, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Padiyathalawa, Mahiyanganaya, Maha Oya, Pullimulai, Karadiyanaru, Chenkaladi, Lahugala - Panama and Weeramunai - Ambathurai roads.

According to the Ministry of Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure, by the end of last year the total number of projects approved for all the three districts was fully completed.

Altogether, approximately 17 bridges are under rapid construction while the reconstruction work of main bridges like Arugam Bay have been completed.

Water supply and drainage systems and fisheries harbour developments are under way with ADB funding.

Prosperity

With proper mechanism upgrading the abandoned agriculture, making the East a prosperous and self sufficient is not impossible, a recently published report of the Census and Statistics Department stated that the high yield in the harvests of the Eastern Province made a substantial contribution to the total agriculture network of the country. The growth rate in the agricultural sector was a result of the increased paddy harvest in Jaffna, Ampara and Batticaloa districts. Harvest in Batticaloa has increased by 46.8%, in Ampara by 25% and in Jaffna by 56% in the Maha season. It was noted by the Department that the peaceful environment in the East contributed to the growth in the agriculture sector. Precise climate, fertile soil and ample water resources flowing in from the number of rivers include Mahaweli River, Maduru Oya, Yan Oya and Gal Oya and almost 32 reservoirs like Mora Wewa and Rugama Wewa dotted across the area. A major irrigation scheme is under way in Rugama Wewa located along the A5 road and Puluganawa Wewa irrigation project is in rapid progress.

The specific area of development activities has a catalytic role in boosting commercial activities in these three districts.

Resettlement

As a result of all these endless efforts to make lives brighter only 10,494 people are to be resettled in the Batticaloa District, data available with the District Secretary's office indicate. In addition, 1493 people from Trincomalee are in Batticaloa. According to the statistics available with the Ministry of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, 4,647 people are yet to be resettled.

By the time the entire Eastern theatre was liberated a total of more than 160,000 people were under the safe wings of the Government staying in welfare camps.As the demining process has completed 95% of its prime objectives the resettlements can progress achieving its scheduled targets.

Resounding success

The success of the Eastern development within a short span of time amidst all the local and international chaotic debates and comments is indeed proof of the success of the State ideology, the strategy and effective implementation schemes.

This is simply by coordinating and extracting the best out of our own resources out of our own administrative system which succeeded in providing maximum benefit to the people in the East from the humanitarian operations which were carried out in the region.