STEPS will be taken to provide facilities for farmers in Vavuniya and Mannar to cultivate their paddy-fields during oncoming Maha season and accelerated project is now underway to clear the fields of landmines and booby traps laden by LTTE terrorists.
This was revealed by Senior Presidential Advisor and Hon. Parliamentarian Mr. Basil Rajapaksa attending a meeting held at Vavuniya District Secretariat Tuesday (25).
The meeting was held to review the progress of development programmes being carried out in Vavuniya and Mannar under Uthuru Wasanthaya.
Hon. MP Mr. Basil Rajapaksa addressing the gathering of Senior Administrative and Military Officials in the area told that many development projects in those areas are nearing their completion and re-settlement will begin as soon as the lands are declared free of mines.
In the meantime, basic infrastructure facilities for better living will be provided to those villages in addition to Rs. 25000/- given to each family at their re-settlement. He issued instructions to release Rs. 320 million to improve drinking-water projects, minor irrigation and other projects needed for re-settlement.
During the meeting, Senior Presidential Advisor mentioned that Security Forces played a commendable role in taking care of displaced civilians since the day they were liberated from the grip of LTTE terrorists. He further reminded that Security Forces were committed to provide all basic facilities to the displaced temporary housed in relief villages.
Mr. Basil Rajapaksa also had a few words with two children, brother and sister, Mahendran Susanthan (16) and Mayuthali (09) who reunited with their family after a few months. They had stayed in an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) centre separated from their parents after they were rescued from terrorists by the Security Forces. Army was able to find out their parents from Chavakachcheri in Jaffna and made arrangements to hand over the two children to them.
Hon. Ministers Douglas Devananda, Rishard Badyudeen, Northern Governor Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri, Commander Security Forces (Wanni) Major General Kamal Goonaratne, District Secretaries of Mannar and Vavuniya and senior government officials in those areas were present.
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