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The Government has launched a massive development drive in the
Eastern Province including the recently liberated areas to
develop the province on par with other provinces.
Attention has been drawn towards highway development and road
development, the health sector and provision of good sanitation
facilities to the public, agriculture sector, community
development programmes. While developing the infrastructure
facilities special attention will be paid to human resource
development.
Advisor to the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry Jeganathan said
that the Government has allocated Rs. 450 million to develop the
health sector in the province and to provide good sanitation
facilities to the public.
The funds will be spent to develop hospitals, dispensaries,
staff quarters and ward complexes.
He said MBBS doctors have been employed in the hospitals in the
recently cleared areas including Vakarai.
The Government has launched a massive agricultural development
drive in the Eastern Province under the Neganahira Navodhaya
Programme to assist the farmers and to increase agricultural
output.
The financial requirement for the upcoming three years are Rs.
153.8 million, 134.3 million and 44.35 million respectively for
the year 2008, 2009 and 2010 to carry out agricultural
development work in the Eastern Province. Rs. 2.935 million has
been allocated so far. With the funding of the Treasury and
other sources, Agrarian Service Centres, fertiliser warehouse
and minor tanks are to be renovated.
The Government has distributed 64 two wheel tractors under the
"Yen grant for Agriculture equipment. Meanwhile, the Government
has reserved 11,000 metric tons of fertiliser to the Eastern
Province for the 2007/2008 Maha season. The Government intends
to distribute 6,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser for the Yala
season this year.
Matharaarachchi said that the Periyakallar Causeway, Kodikallar
Causeway, Kalkudah-Valachchanai road (4.42km),
Oddamawadi-Vahaneri road (3.0km out of 9.25km),
Padiruppu-Vellaveli road (2.0km out of 6.03 km) and Valachchanai
Nasivanthivu-Navaladi road (2.12km out of 5.12 km) have been
completed so far.
The Periyakallar causeway, Kodikallar causeway projects were
completed with a Japanese grant. Construction work on the
Ambilanthurai-Weeramunai road costing Rs. 641 million funded by
the Asian Development Bank is now in progress.
Construction work on the Maha Oya-Chenkaladi road with a Rs.
1,100 million
funding of the Asian Development Bank will commence shortly. The
Oddamavadi bridge will be constructed costing Rs. 380 million
with funding from the Spanish Government.
Meanwhile, Vocational Training Authority Director W.A. Ranaweera
said the Vocational Training Authority has initiated vocational
training programmes in the province with a view to create
skilled employees for the development of the country.
In addition to the existing Vocational Training Centres, three
training centres have been built, at Ninthavur costing Rs. 98
million, Sammanthurai costing of Rs. 230 million and the Central
Camp costing Rs. 122 million will be established.
Rs. 20 million has been allocated for the development of
Akkaraipatthu training centre and Rs. 30 million for the
development of Karathivu training centre respectively. These
funds will be utilised to construct buildings and to develop
other infrastructure facilities related to technical education
and training students.
Rs. 27 million will be spent to construct the Pottuvil training
centre and the GTZ will spend Rs. 3 million for other basic
infrastructure development. Rs. 591 million will be spent in
total for human resource development in the area. |