Major development drive in Batticaloa district

By Mohammed NAALIR Reporting from Batticaloa

The Government has spent Rs. 54,837 million during the past five years to develop the agriculture sector, fisheries industry and to provide infrastructure facilities in the Batticaloa district.

The Walai Iravu bridge which was destroyed by the LTTE is being reconstructed by the Government.

The Weber stadium, located in the Batticaloa town will be developed at a cost of US$ 25 million. The construction work is scheduled to commence by the end of this month and is expected to be completed within 18 months.

Valai Iravu bridge connects the Eluwankarai with Paduwankarai in Vavunativu Divisional Secretariat division.

The Department of Government Information held a one-day seminar at the Batticaloa District Secretariat under the theme “the role of Provincial Journalists for district development”.

Addressing the event, Child Development and Women’s Affairs Deputy Minister M.L.A.M. Hisbullah said that the district was self-sufficient in rice production and fish. The district produced 232,000 metric tons of rice last year. Only 100,000 tons of rice is enough for the district. Additionally 132,000 metric tons of rice has been produced in the district.

The district contributed only 2 percent of the country’s fish production before 2008. It increased to 12 percent in 2011. The Government is providing all assistance to improve the fisheries industry in the district. The Valachchenai fisheries harbour provides asylum to a large number of fishermen in the district, the Deputy Minister said.

Rupees 9,516 million worth development projects are progressing in the district which will be completed before the end of this year.

Kallady bridge under construction

Maalu Maalu Resort and Spa, Pasikkudah

The construction work of the Manmunai bridge will commence soon, the Deputy Minister said.

Discussions had been held with relevant authorities to start other development projects too in the district, he said.

The Minister said that 11,000 houses have been constructed in the district. Construction work of 600 housing units are nearing completion and will be handed over to the beneficiaries soon. The Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs. 600 million for this project.

Deputy Minister Hisbullah said that the Transport Minister too had promised to provide 10 new buses to provide a satisfactory service to commuters.

Over fifty percent of the population in the district has electricity. The remaining residences too will be provided electricity soon, the Deputy Minister said.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has allocated Rs. 3,000 million to develop the district under the Deyata Kirula program. We have also been allocated Rs. 5,500 million to carpet a 100 kilometres long road in the district.

Resettlement Deputy Minister Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan while addressing the seminar said that the Batticaloa district achieved tremendous development in a short period after the elimination of LTTE.

Prominence has been given to agriculture, fisheries industry, livestock development and dairy productions in the district, the Deputy Minister said.

The district is rich in all resources including natural resources when compared to other districts. We must get maximum benefit from those resources, he noted.

The Deputy Minister said that the Tamils and Muslims are working in unison to achieve the goal of sustainable development in the district in all aspects.

In addition we have a fund of Rs. 5,000 million. This fund will be to spend to provide electricity to schools, improve the facilities of computer rooms in the schools, construct bridges and other Government buildings, Deputy Minister Muralitharan said.

Muralitharan said that the employment problems of the youth in the district will also be addressed. Already, employment had been provided to 3,000 graduates in the district. Those in other scales too are being provided employment.

Higher Education Minister S.B. Dissanayake inaugurated the development work of the Medical faculty of the Eastern University recently, he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has extended his fullest support to develop the Batticaloa district under the Mahinda Chinthana national development concept. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa is also closely following the development of Batticaloa district. Various other Ministers too visit Batticaloa district from time to time.

Deputy Minister Muralitharan said plans are afoot to construct the Vavunativu bridge.

The Manmunai bridge will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,600 million funded by the Japanese Government. The construction work is expected to be completed in one year. The construction work will commence by September.

Unnichchai Kulam water supply project is the second biggest water purification plant in Sri Lanka, next to Colombo. Over 300,000 people benefit from it.

The Government has implemented major infrastructure and livelihood development projects in the Batticaloa district under the Mahinda Chinthana, Maga Neguma and Gama Neguma projects, Government Agent GA of Batticaloa P.S.M. Charles said.

Unnichchai Kulam drinking water supply project has fulfilled 37 percent of drinking water needs of the district.

Under the rural electrification project 60 percent of the population in the district has been provided electricity, the Batticaloa GA said.

Road development in the district has also been mooted. Sufficient infrastructure facilities have been provided to the schools and hospitals in the district. Playgrounds have been developed to improve the sports skills of the youth. Sufficient funds have been allocated to develop the Weber Stadium, she said.

There is a need for 48,000 houses in the Eastern province for the people who live below the poverty line. I plan to implement a housing scheme for the people who live below the poverty line and widows if elected as Chief Minister, former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan said.

Special plans have been drafted to improve the living standards of widows. Community livelihood development projects will be implemented while introducing loan schemes, the former Chief Minister said.

He said that the employment problems of graduates have already been solved. Secondly we have worked out plans to generate employment for those who passed G.C.E (O/L) and (A/L).

A large number of employment can be generated only through increasing the investments in the province. A large number of vocational training programs are going on in the province to address the problems of unemployed youth, Chandrakanthan said.

He said that production should be increased. Technical know-how is the only means to increase the production capacity while minimising the wastage.

Improved infrastructure facilities and political stability are the gate-way to attract more foreign investors to the country. Then only a large number of employments can be generated, Chandrakanthan said.

The Batticaloa Medical College is also being developed. The existing universities are enough to cater to the educational needs of the province. The contribution of universities was not sufficient to improve the fisheries industry. There was not a separate research body to improve the agriculture sector. All of these sectors are now being developed in the province, he said.

An ice plant is being built inside the Valachchenai fisheries harbour and will be opened soon. There will be no shortage of ice in the harbour after this plant is opened, said S.S. Hettige, Premises Manager of Valachchenai Fisheries harbour.

Hettige, who denied the allegation of fishermen that the harbour is experiencing a fuel shortage. There are two fuel tanks with 72,000 litres storage capacity, he said.

He said that nearly 1,500 fishing vessels can be accommodated in this harbour similar to Beruwela fisheries harbour.

Fishermen in the region used various places to anchor fishing vessels in the lagoon after the harbour was demolished by the LTTE. Even after the construction of the harbour, still they continue to anchor fishing vessels in previous locations, Hettige said.

He said that only 20 percent of fishermen use the fisheries harbour and less than 20 percent harvest goes to market through this harbour. Over 80 percent is marketed individually by fishermen.

Fishermen in the region should be taught how to handle modern fishing equipments. The Chief Minister had drafted plans to train the fishermen in the region.

Nearly 200,000 kilos of fish go to market through Valachchenai Fisheries Harbour per month, according to Hettige.

Tourism industry is growing rapidly in the Batticaloa district. Pasikkuda is being developed as the main tourism destination in the district. A large number of direct and indirect employments can be generated through the tourism industry in Batticaloa district.

The Kalkuda and Pasikkuda-Kalkuda roads are being developed at a cost of Rs. 700 million, funded by the China Development Bank to improve the tourism industry in the region. The construction work is on progress, according to Project Engineer Thambiraja Padmaraja.

Fourteen luxury hotels will come up in Pasikkuda. Nine hundred rooms are being constructed in Pasikkuda to provide accommodation to tourists. A sea plane service will also be commenced in Batticaloa.

Over 150 students are receiving technical education at the Vantharumoolai Vocational Training Campus. This institute was developed with the assistance of Indian Government. Motor mechanic, computer, machinery operations, refrigeration and air conditioning, electronic, electrician and beautician courses are available at this institute. Nearly 15 students follow each course, a spokesman attached to the institute said.

There are 10 lecturers at this institute. They were also trained in India, the spokesman added.

Plans are afoot to open the 326 metre Kallady bridge before the commencement of ‘Deyata Kirula’ exhibition. Even though it was planned to open before the end of this year, it is not possible as the first constructors delayed the work, Assistant Director of Planning, District Secretariat Office Batticaloa Arumugam Sudhakaran said. He said that this bridge was constructed by Dutch when Lady Manning was the Chief of Batticaloa. This bridge was also called ‘Lady Manning Bridge’. Later this bridge was taken over by the Road Development Authority (RDA) for maintenance.

After the opening of the new bridge, the existing bridge will not be removed. It will be protected as a monument of the city. As there is enough room for two way traffic, no vehicles will be permitted to ply over the old bridge.