Gamin Gamata
development programme begins
Rafik Jalaldeen
Daily News 2006/08/24 |
TISSAMAHARAMA: The Presidential Secretariat Public
Affairs Division will launch a national development programme
under the title of Gamin Gamata from August 28 to 31 at the
Tissamaharama Debarawewa National School on a concept of President
Mahinda Rajapaksa.
This programme will be conducted in the Suriyawewa, Hambantota,
Ambalantota, Lungamvehera and Tissamaharama Divisional Secretariat
areas, President’s Public Affairs Director, Vajira Irugalbandara
said.
He said Agriculture Development Minister Chamal Rajapaksa took
efforts to bring this programme into effect for the benefit
of people. This programme was planned during the previous government
but after a decade it came into effect, he added.
The project’s objectives are to strengthen small scale
entrepreneurs and develop villages and rural areas, he said.
In this regard five Provincial Councilors gathered at a meeting
at the Co-ordinating office of the , Southern Province Chief
Minister on August 12.
Developing Hambantota harbour and religious places are on the
top priority. The Hambantota Fisheries Harbour development was
commented in 2001 by the opposition party. The Asian Development
Bank had allocated funds for the harbour construction but after
five months, reconstruction work was ceased, Media Relations
Officer Saman Disanayake said.
“Now the construction work started under the Mahinda Chinthanaya
by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa. The project is implemented by
the China Harbour Engineering Constructors,” he said.
A fisherman who came from Kirinda to fuel his boat and get ice
from Hambantota harbour told a group of journalists: “The
Kirinda harbour was devastated by the tsunami in 2004. Since
then we have to come here for every need.
We are treated as a second person in this harbour. Many of us
lost our jobs. Generally Tissamaharama people were making their
living from the Kirinda harbour. We kindly request all officials
to consider our situation”.
Some religious places will also be developed under the Gamin
Gamata programme in the Tissamaharama area. More than 14 decades
old temple “Ninbarama” in Hambantota is to be funded
to build a Buddha statue, Urban Councillor Lalith Wanniyarachi
said.
A century old mosque destroyed by the tsunami is under construction
in Hambantota. It also will be assisted by the “Gamin
Gamata” program. Rs.100, 000 was needed to build the destroyed
part of mosque.
Over 150 Tamil families living in the Hambantota area worship
at the Kathiresan Pillayar Kovil. It was built in 1802 and none
of the previous Governments had helped to develop this Kovil.
Now under the “Gamin Gamata” programme it will be
upgraded, an employee of the Kovil S. Kadirwel said.
“We give everyone a form to highlight their personal problems
in an application format and those applications were taken to
Presidential Secretariat for review.
Our officers went to each village and enquired into each and
everyone’s problems,” Hambantota District Secretary
M.A. Piyasena said.
He said the team had found the people’s problems and so
far over 75,000 complaints received. Some of the problems can
be solved instantly. Problems which can be solved instantly
will be given priority.
Most of the problems are related to land, water, electricity
and economical development problems, he added.
President’s Co-ordinating Secretary for Hambantota Upul
Dissanayake said that “Gamin Gamata idea had come from
the people and now we are trying to show them how it works out.
In the past such programmes were not well-known to ordinary
people because it didn’t reach them. Now we are trying
to convey the message very easily by reaching everyone”,he
said.
“Most of the people here are farmers. They were provided
fertilizer but these farmers have no access to bring their produce
to the market. So our concern is now to introduce them to the
market to sell their harvest. We are also trying to sort out
land problems faced by people in Sooriyawewa and Ambalantota”,
he added.
“Building an International Airport in 3,500 acres is also
included in our project. We have planned to give compensation
to the affected people Dissanayake said.
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