North heading towards prosperity

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

In varying degrees the bitter war of the LTTE fought against peace loving Sri Lankans made the country suffer for nearly three decades. The war mainly affected the entire North and the East imposing a heavy burden on the economy.

Especially in the threatened villages in the North misery was higher than in any other part of Sri Lanka. In addition, both provinces had to bear the brunt of the 2004 Tsunami and it was the Northern and Eastern coastal belt that suffered relatively a severe damage.

Vulnerable groups

One major effect of the war is the emergence of vulnerable groups who lost their means of 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 creating a favourable environment for resettling the displaced people to enable them re-engage in their normal economic activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and other informal sectors. This will certainly helps restore their dignity.President Mahinda Rajapaksa who completes the fourth year of his tenure as the leader of the country, successfully eliminated the terror campaign of the LTTE and restored peace and order in the country.

Creation of ethnic harmony and establishment of an egalitarian society in which each community could maintain its identify and dignity is the ultimate objective of the 'Mahinda Chinthanaya'. 'Mahinda Chinthanaya' advocates the necessity to develop the North and the East as a hospitable and attractive area and create an environment where people can live in freedom and pursue livelihoods of their choice, promoting rapid social and economic development.

It is Northern Revival now! President Mahinda Rajapaksa's vision is to improve the basic needs and services deteriorated due to the conflict situation and develop the economic infrastructure to sustain development priorities.

Normality returns

With the resettlement now on full swing in the North, the Government, through the Local Government set up, is focusing on improving the livelihood development activities - especially cultivation, fishing and animal husbandry (back yard poultry). Basically these were livelihoods people were engaged in before they were displaced.

They did not have a proper strategy to generate a steady income. But today, with many people being resettled there is a greater potential for them to pursue their usual livelihood and regain their lost opportunities."We are promoting inland fishing in the newly resettled areas in Vavuniya as many of those villages are in the vicinity of major and minor tanks.

And fingerlings were released into twelve reservoirs three months ago through the Fisheries Ministry and now is the time for the people to collect the fish harvest," Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said explaining the fast moving development drive set to achieve the goals of the 'Mahinda Chinthanaya'.As an initial step, 30 boats and nets along with other fishing gear were distributed among a selected number of fishermen in Vavuniya.The ban imposed on fishing in Jaffna has been lifted. The fishermen have submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda, underlining the difficulties they are facing at present.

Minister Devananda had assured them that he would discuss the issues with the security commanders concerned to find a solution.Steps are being taken under the "Vadakkil Vasantham" programme to provide them relief.In a bid to expand paddy cultivation in the Northern region an additional 7,000 acres would be re-cultivated in the Mannar Rice Bowl with water from the Giants Tank, the Governor said.

Asvedumising 4,000 acres in Kurukankandal in Manthai West last week as the next phase of the mega cultivation drive was launched with the participation of Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services, Rishard Bathuideen, and NP Governor G.A. Chandrasiri.

The Government has provided a subsidiaries to encourage the farmers to start cultivating with seed paddy worth Rs. 3,000 being given to each farmer in addition to the fertilizer subsidy.

3,000 acres in the Musalai, Mannar, 4,000 acres in West Manthai, Adampan and another 3100 in Thunukkai, Mullaitivu will be cultivated during the upcoming Maha season, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Northern Province, Dr. S. Gnanachandran said.

"The cultivation will also be expanded to include an another 750 acres of dry land in the region and 110 acres of dry land in Mulankavil in Kilinochchi," he added.

The weather condition is favourable for cultivation to commence in the region with heavy rains recorded by now. The water level in the Giant Tank has risen by 5 feet. According to agriculture officials when the water level rises to 10 feet further 7000 acres could be cultivated.

The de-mining process is successfully carried out in areas surrounding the Giant Tank in Mannar and the Iranamadu tank in Kilinochchi. With the present progress officials believe the de-mining could be completed soon, hopefully before the next monsoon enabling the restart of paddy cultivation.

Rs. 14 Million has been set apart for Agricultural development activities in the Mullaitivu district. An area of over 3,000 Hectares has been cleared of mines in the region, the Northern Governor's Secretariat stated.

In the Mullaitivu district the irrigation network is being restored with such reserviours as Mallavi tank, Kalvilan kulam, Theniyan kulam, Koddaikaddia kulam and the Ambelaperamal kulam and Therankandal kulam being renovated while Kollavilan kulam, Vavuni kulam being repaired.

Supporting the efforts of the Government to expedite the cultivation of arable lands in the North, farming equipment worth Rs. 50 million donated by the Asian Development Bank was received by the Northern Task Force, Chairman and Parliamentarian, Basil Rajapaksa, recently and were later dispatched to the region.These equipment will be distributed among the newly resettled residents in Mullaittivu, Mannar and Kilinochchi regions, said the Governor. The consignment included 37 tractors with trailors. They would be handed over to the people through Government Agents of the respective districts.

Resettling rapidly

The resettlement drive under 'Vadakkin Vasantham' is moving fast under the direct supervision of the Chairman of the Task Force for Northern Development Senior Presidential Advisor, Basil Rajapaksa M.P.

Arrangements have been made to resettle, 16,394 Internally Displaced Persons in their homes in Mullaitivu, Governor Chandrasiri said. Accordingly 4,415 families from relief villages will be resettled in 20 Grama Niladari divisions in the Thunukkai. Up to now nearly 7,000 people have been resettled in Thunukkai and Mallavi areas, said the Governor.

For the benefit of those resettled in Thunukkai, Mallavi and Punakari Grama Niladari divisions, travel facilities have been increased with the addition of three buses to the fleet from the November 15. The Ministry of Transport has made arrangements to provide two more buses.

Continuing support

In order to repair and renovate 19 schools in Mullaitivu district, Rs. 39 Million have been provided. Under the project the Yogapuram School in Mallavi started re-functioning from November 9 onwards, Northern Governor's Secretariat stated.As the IDPs are being resettled in their villages it has become important to provide the officials with transport facilities to help them get about their duties.Demining is of vital importance to the Government's mega resettlement programme.

"A major part of the de-mining is done by the Sri Lanka Army in the newly liberated areas and it is priority number one in the rebuilding process. Before the start of any of these activities the land should be cleared and secured," Governor Chandrasiri stressed.De-mining process is carried out in such a way that no threat will be posed to the people and their livelihood activities after the resettlement," he added.Infrastructure development in remote villages in Mullaitivu, which many thought would take years to implement, are ready to be carried out.

Electricity was first supplied to general areas in Kilinochchi, Dharmapuram and Thunukkai. Even the minor access roads in Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Mannar and Jaffna, are being rehabilitated.The Thunukkai - Theniyankulam road (8.5 km), Thunukkai - Kokavil road (23km), Alankulam road and the Kollavilankulam road (3km) are the main roads under renovation at present. The Base Hospital and the Health Centre in Mallavi, Health Centre in Kalvilan and Central Dispensary in Thunukkai are being renovated.Under the solid leadership of a leader with a crystal clear vision the mission that seemed impossible at the beginning is coming to fruition.

Freedom at last

Freedom is easier said than done!

It was a major decision taken by President Rajapaksa to allow the Northern Civilians to travel to Colombo via land route freely without any security clearances. Significantly the decision was taken by the President on his birthday and the fourth anniversary as Executive President in Sri Lanka.

With the opening of the A9 road any Sri Lankan can travel to Jaffna from Colombo or vice versa without the security clearance certificate that was required earlier.

Any Sri Lankan using this highway will only have to produce the National Identity Card, the passport or the driving license. Buses plying to Jaffna will be subjected to normal security checks.The Northern Governor took steps in July this year to increase the fleet of buses plying on the A-9 high way to Vavuniya. The Sri Lanka Transport Board commenced direct buses from Colombo to Jaffna following this development.