Rapid progress in Uva

By P. Krishnaswamy

President Mahinda Rajapaksa opens the BoC branch in Moneragala

While some of the mega programs launched by the Government for the accelerated development of the Uva province, now nearing completion, came under the observation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his stay in the province during the recent days, the President also laid foundation stones for several more infrastructure, education, agriculture, health and livelihood related projects, according to reports.

Uva Sports Complex in Badulla

The construction of a bridge

A renovated road

Bandarawela bus terminal under construction

Vijithamuni Soysa Cultural Centre, Bibile

Medical Paediatric and Emergency Treatment Unit complex

Students at a computer laboratory

A series of victory rallies in the run up to the September 20 Uva PC polls also were held under the President's leadership, attended by hundreds of thousands of zealous supporters.

Amidst his tight schedule, the President declared open science labs contributed to several schools under the "Mahindodaya Schools Development Program", he declared open the new sports complex and swimming pool at Vincent Dias Stadium constructed at a cost of Rs.350 Mn, and ceremonially started the work on the Beragalla-Wellwaya Road and inspected the final stage work on the Badulla-Mahiyangana Road and the bridge.

The President also declared open the state-of-the-art bus terminal for Bandarawela and presided the women's convention at the Hali-Ela public ground, participated by several thousands of people. Incidentally, the President had instructed the expeditious completion of the infrastructure development projects for the Uva including the construction of 37 bridges by the Ministry of Ports, Highways and Shipping at a staggering expenditure of Rs.42,979 Mn, the sources said.

Prosperity

The President is also scheduled to address final election rallies at Wellawaya, Monaragala, Badulla and Mahiyangana, the sources said.

Under its vision "Towards Prosperity" and under the stewardship of former Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, the Uva Provincial Council had launched many programs during the past five years, in keeping with the "Mahinda Chintana" concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, towards uplifting the socio-economic conditions and standard of living of the people of the province. Infrastructure Development was the main focus of the Council to ensure a stable social and economic development for the people.

Under the program of former Minister of Road Development, Housing, Water Supply, Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives R.M. Kumarasiri Ratnayaka the carpeting of 2,385 Km road was undertaken with part of the work already completed. With contribution from the tea small holders and the plantation management companies estate roads have also been developed by the Ministry with investments of Rs. 12 Mn in 2012, Rs. 29 Mn 2013 and Rs. 29 Mn in 2014, according to the statement.

Since 2004 a staggering amount of Rs.42,979 Mn was allocated for development of road network in the province , according to sources of the Project Ministry for Highways, Ports and Shipping.

In addition rural road development projects encompassed all Pradeshiya Sabha areas in the province and the fund allocation is Rs.1,630 Mn. Both local and foreign funds have been utilised for the mega road development projects, sources said.

The Uva province being an agricultural region, with vast extents of agricultural land and tea plantations, the UPFA Government, under its major development programs, focussed on providing irrigation and agriculture-based infrastructure to promote agriculture and export tea.

Objective

This objective has been achieved to a great extent with several irrigation projects already completed and two major projects nearing completion. Infrastructure facilities are almost complete with road networks connecting interior agricultural and plantation areas.

Agricultural and infrastructure projects were launched by the line ministries of the central government and the Provincial Council administration.

Two of the major ongoing irrigation projects are the Rs. 76,316 Million Iran-funded Uma Oya Multipurpose Project in Moneragala and the Rs. 1,700 Mn Morana Irrigation Reservoir Project in Rdimaliyadda Divison in the Mahiyangana Divisional Secretariat area.

The Uma Oya project tops the list of all mega development projects launched by the UPFA Government for accelerated development of the province.

These two projects and other smaller projects that have already been implemented would hugely contribute to increased agricultural productivity while uplifting socio-economic welfare of the agricultural communities in particular and other communities in general, authoritative government sources said.

Farmers constantly experienced water scarcity for cultivation in the province and the below-poverty-line average remained markedly higher compared to other provinces but this situation is fast changing consequent to the development programs launched by the government, the sources said.