Saturday, July 23, 2011

'Govt developing N-E'

The government is now implementing a number of development programmes in the North and the East. People can prosper under these programmes and reverse the destruction caused by the three decade conflict, Technology and Research Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said.

She expressed these views participating in a ceremony organized by the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority to provide goods to people in Jaffna, Wadukkodai recently. The programme was organized to enhance the living standard of the people in this area. Thirty years ago the North had a self sufficient economy when compared with other parts of the country. This was destroyed by terrorist activities. Under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa the government is dedicated to rebuild these areas, she said. "Now people can see a number of development programmes being implemented in these areas.

'The government will take action to accelerate these projects in the near future,' she said.
'Instead of implementing development programmes in these areas, certain political parties are critical about such endeavours to develop the North.

Local councils can make a major contribution in developing these rural areas. People should appoint good and active members to local councils to make a success of these development programmes,' she added.

Source:Dailynews

Dedicated Economic center for Kilinochchi

The government will set up a new Dedicated Economic center (DEC) and Lanka Sathosa outlet in Kilinochchi, with immediate effect to provide relief to consumers as well as farmers in the region.
Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said that the government will spend around Rs.175 million for the DEC in Kilinochchi.

Construction of the proposed DEC is expected to be completed within six months. It will have 350 trade stalls and will provide marketing facilities for producers to sell their products, such as, vegetables, rice, meat and fish, spices and other items.

The Sathosa outlet will be constructed within three months at a cost of Rs.30 million. A fuel filling station will also be constructed under first phase of the project.

Prime Minister D.M Jayaratne and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapkasa laid foundation stones for the construction of the DEC and the Sathosa outlet in Kilinochchi yesterday. The minister said that the DEC will further strengthen the farmer community in the Northern region who could obtain fair prices for their agricultural products from these economic centers. Consumers in the North will be able to purchase fresh and quality consumer items transported from several parts of the country at a cheaper rates.
Meanwhile, a paddy store house with a facility of storing nearly 2500 metric tones of buffer paddy stock was opened in Ramanadanpuram, Kilinochchi yesterday. The paddy store which was totally destroyed by terrorists during the war has been renovated by the government to avert any future rice storage.

Source:SundayObserver

Friday, July 22, 2011

Northern consumers to benefit

A paddy storage facility at Ramanadanpuram, in Kilinochchi, which could store 2,500 metric tones of paddy was declared open on Wednesday (21). This was re-constructed after it was destroyed during the 30-yer terrorist war. Paddy could be bought direct from the northern farmers by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB).

An economic centre, with 350 sales outlets, at a cost of Rs. 175 million, too is to be constructed in Kilinochchi within a short period of six months .

A Lanka Sathosa Super Market too is to come up in Kilinochchi at a cost of Rs. 30 million and its construction is to be completed within three months.

Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando said that consumers in the peninsula could enjoy the same benefits enjoyed by others in the country and purchase essential consumer items at affordable prices.

Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa too were present.

Source:Island

Sri Lanka, India sign MoU to develop KKS Harbour in the North


July 21, Colombo: Sri Lanka and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday to develop the Kankasanthurai (KKS) port under an agreement the two countries had reached during the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in June 2010.
During President Rajapaksa's visit it had been agreed in the Joint Declaration issued on the occasion that India would extend assistance for the rehabilitation of the Kankasanthurai Harbour among other infrastructure projects in the Northern Province.



High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha signed the agreement on behalf of Government of India while Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Highways Mrs. Sujatha Cooray signed for Sri Lanka.
Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways, Mr. Rohitha Abeygunawardena and the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Dr. Priyath Bandu Wickrama also attended the ceremony.
A press release issued by the Indian High Commission in Colombo said the Kankasanthurai Harbour project will be aided by a mix of grant funding and concessional credit from the Government of India.
The Kankasanthurai Harbour rehabilitation project is a complex and wide-ranging project that will be completed in multiple stages.
The Indian government has already committed 2.2 billion rupees (about US$ 20 million) for three initial steps, mainly for preliminary hydrographic survey, geotechnical investigations and DPR preparation and wreck removal and salvage.
In addition to this, the Government of India will provide additional grant funding for the dredging of the harbour and concessional credit for the rehabilitation of the breakwater and construction of a new pier and attendant port facilities, the release said. Final hydrographic survey and preparation of Harbour Chart will also be carried out.
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) estimating the total expenditure on the project is to be prepared.
Preliminary Hydrographic Survey has already been completed by an Indian agency in June-July 2010 as part of the preparation for this project.
One of the main problems in the rebuilding of the KKS harbor is the presence of six ship wrecks of which 4 are inside and 2 are outside the Harbour.
Indian government has awarded a contract to the Shipping Corporation of India for the removal and disposal of the six wrecks to M/s Resolve Salvage and Fire (Asia) Pvt Ltd, Singapore at a total cost
Wreck removal is expected to be completed by mid-November 2011. The work is being funded by a grant from the Government of India.
Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) will conduct the dredging of the harbour and it is expected to commence in late 2011. The work will be fully funded by a grant from the Government of India.
The contract for Geo-technical and Geo-physical studies and preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been awarded to RITES Ltd of India. These studies are in progress. The company has prepared an initial draft of the DPR and it will be presented to Sri Lankan authorities shortly.
Once the DPR is approved, RITES would carry out the tendering procedure for the work included in the DPR. The scope of work would include rehabilitation of the existing breakwater, construction of a new pier and related port facilities. The preparation of the DPR is being funded through a grant from the Government of India.
RITES will also float tenders for award of works related to the rehabilitation of breakwater/pier and construction of new pier with attendant port facilities will be undertaken in accordance with the approved DPR. The Government of India will provide a Line of Credit to the Government of Sri Lanka for the work and construction of additional pier/s for commercial cargo handling and the installation of port infrastructure facilities.
Detailed hydrographic survey and preparation of Harbour Chart will be taken up as the final stage of work.
At the ceremony, High Commissioner Kantha has remarked that restoration of physical infrastructure at the Harbour would contribute towards the Sri Lankan government's reconstruction efforts, promote normalcy in northern Sri Lanka by restoring traditional domestic and regional linkages and boost economic activity by encouraging trade. The allied activities at the Harbour would also generate employment in the area.
Noting the key role played by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Ports and Highways, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the High Commissioner has appreciated the strong support and cooperation extended by the Government of Sri Lanka at every stage of project formulation and preparation.
Sri Lankan Deputy Minister for Ports and Highways Rohitha Abeygunawardena has said that Sri Lanka will take up construction of the Quays and the breakwater and the work is expected to take about two years.
He has expressed the Sri Lankan government's appreciation for the assistance being provided for this important project by the Government of India. 


Source:Colombopage

Sri Lanka President hands over Army-built houses for needy families in North


July 21, Jaffna: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa symbolically handed over 100 new houses built entirely by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Keeramalai to the needy families at a ceremony held Tuesday (19).
The SLA has built the houses in a record 10 days with the raw materials provided by the government.





Construction of a house has cost the government less than 300,000 rupees since the Army was providing necessary planning, architecture, infrastructure facilities and labor, free of charge.
Earlier the SLA has built 1,700 new houses and handed them over to families in the Jaffna Peninsula in separate occasions.
(Photos by Chandana Perera)  

Source:Colombopage

Sri Lanka Air Force to launch civilian flights to former rebel capital


July 21, Colombo: Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya announced that the Air Force would commence civil aviation between Colombo and the newly opened Kilinochchi air base.
The first civilian flight is to take off from Ratmalana airport in the outskirts of Colombo city on July 28.

The flights will be landed in the newly reconstructed Kilinochchi airstrip.
Air Force will run a light aircraft such as a Chinese built Y-12 transport plane for civilians every Thursday from next week, the Air Force says.

Source:Colombopage