Top priority for development for north, says President

(May 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) President Mahinda Rajapaksa today said that the government is to give top priority for the development of the northern province which has not seen any development during the past 30 years to the dominance of the LTTE there.

Addressing the Colombo based diplomatic community he said the implementation of long-term development programmes for the North and the welfare programmes for the displaced persons and their resettlement will be considered the government’s duty and responsibility.

“This will specially relate to: De-mining activities, Infrastructure development which includes building of roads, houses, schools, hospitals, electrification etc. Livelihood support for the resettled persons, and Psycho social programmes for the rehabilitation of former LTTE cadres and in particular child soldiers. We have already initiated action in this regard”, President Rajapaksa said.

“Towards this end, my Government is in the process of completing a Master Plan for a long term reconstruction of the war ravaged region”, he said.

-Sri Lanka Guardian