Terror-free North welcomes a new spring

Dhaneshi Yatawara

The spring is blooming in the North. Dreams are re-emerging for those who thought that it was the end of their lives. True freedom has dawned for the innocent civilians who fled in fear of the brutality of Prabhakaran’s terrorism. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s bold decision paved the way for the Security Forces to save thousands of innocent lives trapped in the iron clutches of LTTE terrorism. It was truly humanitarian mission.

With a total area of 8,847 square kilometers encompassing five districts, one Municipal Council, six Urban Councils and 27 Pradeshiya Sabhas, the Northern Province has approximately 13.22% land area of the entire country.

The Eastern Province represents approximately 15 percent of the total land area of the country having about 14% of the entire population.

The LTTE mainly fought for this piece of land to create their hypothetical Eelam, a mono-ethnic separate land. In varying degrees this bitter war of the LTTE against peace loving citizens made the country suffer for nearly three decades.

The war mainly affected the entire North and the East since the inception of LTTE terrorist activities, imposing a heavy cost on the economy in terms of resources wasted and opportunities lost. The North and the East suffered the most.

Especially in the threatened villages poverty was higher than in any other part of Sri Lanka. In addition, both provinces had to bear the brunt of the 2004 tsunami as it was the Northern and Eastern coastal belts that suffered the most damage. The war affected them the most.

According to national statistics the region contributed about 14% to the GDP prior to the war and during the war in recent times it dropped to about 8%.The ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ stressed the need to develop the North and the East as hospitable and attractive places and create an environment where people can live in freedom and pursue livelihoods of their choice, where peace and ethnic harmony prevail in a way that will permit rapid social and economic development. Three years since its total liberation from the LTTE, the Eastern Province has achieved this target creating a conducive environment for business to flourish. The East successfully wiped out all traces of terrorism.

It is the turn of the North now. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s vision was to improve the basic needs and service supply deteriorated by the conflict as an urgent need. Rehabilitation and improvement of economic infrastructure in the region will be given high priority.

Common man

One major effect of the war is the creation of vulnerable groups who lost their sustenance. Economically deprived people who find it difficult to satisfy their minimum basic requirements are in a vulnerable position. They include the landless poor farmers, casual workers and daily wage earners.

With the elimination of terrorism the degree of vulnerability declined thus making a favourable environment for resettling people to allow them to re-engage in their normal economic activities in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and other informal sectors. This ensures the dignity of these settlers.

Facilitating the restoration of sustainable livelihoods through opening income avenues and providing other ancillary services is the main focus. The creation of ethnic harmony and establishment of a society in which each community has their uniqueness preserved and dignity secured is the ultimate objective of the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. As President Mahinda Rajapaksa ends the fourth year in his seat as the leader of the country he has successfully ended the terror campaign of the LTTE thus saving the nation from a bleak future.

Speedy and safe

Today the accelerated 180 days program of the ‘Vadakkin Vasantham’ (Northern Spring) is progressing steadily keeping to its deadlines under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ sets its strategies maintaining the principles of transparency, fundamental human rights and the rule of law.

The utmost importance is security, protection and human rights. Thus the humanitarian demining process is the first step. At the initial stage the Government relied on the Sri Lanka Army to start the de-mining process and they still continue to be the gigantic force behind the process of creating areas suitable for human habitation. Several other Non Governmental organizations are engaged in this de-mining process in areas demarcated for them.

For the ‘Sappers’ - the Engineering Corp of the Sri Lanka Army their primary mission is complete. Their dedication and extreme commitment is a mammoth strength for the Government’s mega resettlement process - the most essential and crucial part of bringing spring to the North.

Infrastructure

For the restoration of the livelihoods to be more effective along with the reactivation of services, rehabilitating infrastructure facilities is crucial. Roads, electricity, irrigation and communications are the important aspects in this regard.

The Government is promoting large investments on these requirements while the basics are provided through the relevant Government institutes.

The entire process taking place across the Northern Province is closely monitored by the Task Force for Northern Development appointed directly by the President which is presently chaired by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa M.P. Under the Chairman’s preview the process of resettlement, rehabilitation and restoration of normality in the war scattered land is monitored in different directions.

Governor of the Northern Province Maj.Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, higher officials of ministries such as the Nation building and Estate Infrastructure, Resettlement, Power and Energy etc are constantly involved.

Enabling Good Governance in these areas where the political leadership is absent, the presence of the Central Government through the Governor is practised giving more Governmental powers to the Governor. The Parliamentary representation provides the political supervision maintaining accountability and transparency.

The Government was able to get the assistance of several United Nations organizations to extend their support for its plans in these efforts both financially and services-wise.

Infrastructure development of remote villages in areas such as Mullaitivu, which many thought would take years to implement, are ready to be carried out. Electricity was first supplied through the Ceylon Electricity Board on April 13 to general areas in Killinochchi, Dharmapuram and Thunukkai. Road Development is not limited to main roads. Even the minor access roads in remote areas of Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna, if de-mined and safe, are under repair and reconstruction either by the Road Development Authority under the Central Government or the Road Development Department of the Northern Provincial Council.

Human capacities

Development would not be completed just by filling the gaps with infrastructure facilities. Under the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ the current policies are designed to protect and resettle the displaced community and to reconstruct the economic, physical and social infrastructure with the objective of assuring sustained long term development in the North and the East.

The success of the process depends on the maintenance of a conflict free environment where the IDPs can voluntarily resettle in their original homes or any alternative area of their choice.

In the long term, the Government’s intervention under the leadership of President Rajapaksa is not just aimed at the restoration of original status but also on raising the standards of life of all those who were displaced and suffered the loss of income and property. A better future for all Sri Lankans is his noble aim.