Uthuru Wasanthaya commences:

IDPs to be rehabilitated and resettled

Infrastructure development - roads, electrification and land mines clearing have commenced under the 180-day Uthuru Wasanthaya development program, said Former IGP and Consultant to the Uturu Wasanthaya and Nagenahira Nevodaya programs, Chandra Fernando.

He said the government will develop the infrastructure to facilitate rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced persons under the accelerated development program for the North.

The Presidential Task Force headed by Senior Advisor to the President, Basil Rajapaksa MP was set up to expedite development activities in the Northern province.

Fernando said carpeting of 12 kilometres of the A 32 Poonaryn Road has already commenced and around 118 families in the Silavathura and Mudali Pradeshiya Sabha Divisions in the Mannar district have been resettled.

“Reconstruction of the Police station under the Silavathura Pradeshiya Sabha division and the bridge along Silavathura-Mannar Road have started”, he said.

Ministries have been called upon to submit project proposals for development of the Northern province. Infrastructure development activities will be carried out under various Ministries.

Fernando said elderly and disabled persons will be handed over to the relatives after an identification and assessment of the financial status has been done under the Relief Village program.

The government plans to complete all development programs in the Northern province within two years.

Former President, Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, Nawaz Rajabdeen said the Chamber will assist the government in reviving industries in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

The Northern and Eastern provinces could contribute a major share to the development of the country through agriculture, fisheries, tourism and mineral resources. LF