Mullaitivu booms with rapid development

Irangika Range in Mullaitivu

Sri Lanka is on the threshold of a new beginning. The ruthless terrorism that hindered the country’ s development for almost three decades has been eradicated completely from its soil and the country is in the process of a renaissance.

Despite a number of obstacles and allegations, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been able to proclaim a new epoch in the country by liberating motherland from the clutches of terrorism. Today new aspirations and hopes have come up in minds of innocent civilians living in the North for a prosperous future. A large number of reconstruction activities have already been initiated by the Government. Simultaneously relief operations are under-way to restore the lost opportunities in the regions.

Relief and resettlement operations have been expedited under directives of President Mahinda Rajapaksa by the Presidential Special Task Force on Rehabilitation and Resettlement for those people displaced from their regular places of living due to the situation that prevailed in the country.

In the process, the Government, Security Forces and the Local Government Authorities had shouldered a greater responsibility to make every village in the North to become the hub of development. The people in the North have already expressed their enthusiasm extending their full support to the Government for its efforts to develop their native places.

The `Uthuru Wasanthaya’ is in full swing in the Mullaitivu district which was severely battered by atrocious LTTE terrorism. Under the directives of Presidential Task Force for the Northern Development Chaired by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa (M.P.), mega development projects which were confined to Colombo earlier have initiated in the Mullaitivu district.

Identifying priorities is the key factor in properly implementing such a mega project. Therefore, without depending on secondary information the Task Force meets local government authorities, people, displaced people at welfare centres, to get a clear picture of the respective localities by making regular field visits.

According to Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, the mega development plan focuses on three main aspects of deminig, resettlement and infrastructure development. It is implemented in three stages under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” 180-day program as short term plan and the long-term plan. At present demining and resettlement have accelerated parallely to the development in Mullaitivu.

Realizing a main concerns on human resettlements, President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his recent visit to the North has directed Government Officials to rebuild the town water tank and the water supply scheme, electricity, sanitation facilities, with immediate effect in the area, to support the livelihoods of resettled people which is carried out under the plan.

Uthuru Wasanthaya programme was commenced to cater to the needs of the people who have undergone numerous hardships due to the war in the past three decades. Infrastructure development, electricity, water supply and sanitation, agriculture, irrigation, livestock development, inland fisheries, health, solid waste disposal, education, sports, cultural affairs and transportation are some of the areas have already been helped the civilians to return to their normal livelihood while businessmen to restart to their buying and selling.

Mullaitivu at a glance

Mullaitivu District is one of the newly created districts in Sri Lanka in 1979 which was covered by Mannar, Trincomalee and Vavuniya districts. The district occupies the Eastern part of the mainland of Northern Province.

Mullaitivu district has Killinochchi district on its northern border, Trincomalee district and Vavuniya district and part of the Mannar district in the south, Mannar district in the west and the sea in the East. It covers land area approximately 2516.9 sq.km.(including forest area excluding larger inland water). This district accounts for 3.8 percent of the country’s total area.

The physical feature of Mullaitivu district is flat land, generally sloping to the East and North, in the Western part, towards West and South.

This district has 70km of coastal belt and four lagoons of Kokkulai, Nayaru, Nanthikadal and Mathalan with high potentials for prawn culture. The elevation varies from sea level to 36.5 metres. Major soil groups are reddish brown earth and red yellow lato soils which are suitable for cultivation.

This district consists of different eco-systems as forest land. Shrub land, coconut plantation, agriculture land and water bodies etc. Total land area (including forest area and excluding large inland water bodies) is 251,690 hectares. Approximately 167,850 hectares which is 64.1 percent of the total land area consists of forest, agriculture covers nearly 44,040 hectares (16.9 percent), range land accounts for 13,650 hectares (5.2 percent) another 26,150 hectares constitutes of water and homestead and build up land accounts for 5.1 percent.

Mullaitivu district is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka having bimodal rainfall pattern. The average annual rainfall varies from 626 mm to 3276mm per year. The district receives most of the rain during the North-East monsoon, from early October to late January. Annual temperature is low during October to January and there being significant fluctuation between day and night temperatures. The temperature is ranging from 23.0 degree Celsius to 39.3 degree Celsius.

This district is bestowed with water resources, which could be utilized for agriculture development. There are no major perennial rivers that could be tapped to provide irrigation cultivation. The district has three major irrigation tanks with irrigable area of 15,373 acres, another sixteen medium tanks with irrigable are a of 9,552 acres and 383 minor irrigation tanks with a command area of 11,099 acres. Rain water is the only major source of irrigation for agriculture.

The district has five administrative divisions and covers 127 Grama Sevaka officers divisions of Maritimepattu, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Oddusuddan, Thunukkai and Manthai East and 620 villages estimated population in this district was 220,311 as at December 31, 2007.

The Economy

Major portion of the population is engaged in Agriculture sector which includes fishing and livestock, other occupations are in the industrial sector, Government Sector and private establishments. Nearly 19,416 and 3,612 families are engaged in agriculture and fishing respectively.

Development drive

The Government has allocated Rs.1,000 million for the development projects in last year. Infrastructure facilities are developed in keeping with the Uthuru Vasanthaya 180-day development program in the Mullativu district with a heavy capital outlay. It is expected to add the economic potentials in the district to boost the national economy. The Government has allocated funds of Rs.125 million for the road development, Rs.20 million for the minor irrigation development, Rs. 40 million for the education, Rs.17 million for the cooperative sector development under the Uthuru Wasanthaya program in last year.

Meanwhile, a sum of Rs.20 million has been allocated for the roads improvement under the Maga Neguma project and Rs.30 million for the administration sector development in the district.

Under the roads development sector, Mankulam-Mullaitivu road at a cost of Rs.77 million, Mankulam-Vellankulam Road at a cost of Rs.59 million and Kandy-Jaffna road at a cost of Rs.10 million are being constructed in Oddusuddan.

Among the mega scale projects, new transmission tower which is the Sri Lanka’s tallest broadcast tower at a cost of Rs.400 million in Kokkavil, Mankulam Regional Urban Center Development project, which will develop Mankulam as provincial administration centre second to the Jaffna Metro Urban Centre in the North including Police Complex, Courts Complex, Bus stand and Railway station, Electricity scheme in Thirumurukkandy and new two fuel stations are progressing the constructions currently.

Base Hospital in Mallavi, Divisional Hospital in Naddankandal and the MOH office in Mallavi have been opened and they are functioning now.

The renovations and reconstructions of the irrigation systems and canals are also taking place and will be completed shortly. A number of tanks are being renovated and constructed to provide water to the farming lands. The Government is in the process of re-opening schools while helping the displaced to resettle. In addition inland fisheries and other vocational training programs to promote self- employment are implemented in the Mullaitivu district.

Huge amount of money is allocated to develop roads, in the rural areas which are under the Local Governments while the main access roads are reconstructed by the Road Development Authority.

Under the Northern Spring, road development, uplifting transport system, developing ayurvedic hospitals, repairing and reconstructing irrigation systems as well as improving the schools are given priority.

Under the Gama Neguma program, developing fisheries and agricultural industries and livestock development activities are in progress.

Meanwhile, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry has allocated Rs.74 million for repairing of Oddusuddan-Thaddamalai road, Olumadu-Pulumachchinathakulam- Ampakamam road in Oddusuddan. Repairing Kokkavil-Thunukkai road at a cost of Rs. 9 million, Thunukkai-Alankulam road at a cost of Rs.1 million, Poovarasankulam-Thunukkai road at a cost of Rs. 25 million, Thunukkai-Thenniyankulam road at a cost of Rs.3 million and Nagapaduvan path at a cost of Rs. 8 million had already been constructed in Thunukkai area. Roads of Kollavilankulam, Vannivilankulam-Panamkamam, Palamoddai-Moonrummurippu, Vavunikkulam, Vavunikkulsm-Pandiyankulam have been repaired at a cost of Rs.12 million in Manthai East area.

In addition eight rural roads in Ampalapperumalkulam, Mallavi, Thunukkai, Koddaikaddiyakulam, Pukalenthinagar, Mallavi, Alankulam and Puththuvedduvan had constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 million in Thunukkai area.Seven rural roads in Palinagar, Ampalpuram, Oddaruthtakulam, Kollavilankulam, Palinagar, Panankamam and Pandiyankulam has completed the construction at a cost of Rs.5 million in Manthai East. Three rural roads in Mannakandal, Muththaiyankaddu, Katchilaimadu had already been constructed in Oddusuddan division at a cost of Rs.6 million. These roads had constructed under the financial assistance by the Highways and Road Development Ministry under the Maga Neguma project.

In addition, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry has funded for completion of constructions of 24 roads at a cost of Rs.7 million in the Thunukkai division while 30 roads at a cost of Rs.15 million in Manthai East. In Oddusuddan, 30 roads have been completed constructions at a cost of Rs.21million.

Meanwhile, construction of the public market in Mallavi and Palinagar are being progressed at a cost of Rs.2 million funded by the Provincial Council.

Construction work of seven electricity schemes in Maritimepattu, two schemes in Oddusuddan and one scheme in Thunukkai have undertaken by the Power and Energy Ministry at a cost of Rs.48 million.

Seventeen electricity schemes in Maritimepattu, Oddusuddan and Thunukkai are also under construction at a cost of Rs. 221million funded by the CAARP.

Under the irrigation projects, 9 tanks in Thunukkai at a cost of Rs.10 million, 3 tanks in Manthai East at a cost of Rs.2 million, one tank in Oddusuddan and Puthukudiyiruppu at a cost of Rs.6 million provided by PSDG have been renovated currently.

Meanwhile, the Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry has allocated Rs.19 million to construct and repair 10 tanks and three buildings in Thunukkai, 8 tanks in Manthai East and four tanks and two buildings in Oddusuddan.

In addition, 11 schools in Thunukkai division at a cost of Rs 26 million, five schools in Manthai East and five schools in Oddusuddan have constructed at a cost of Rs 39 million.

Under the health sector development, renovation and repairs of base hospitals, doctors quarters, water tanks, wards, clinic rooms, operation theaters, nurses quarters and provision of furniture and ambulances have been undertaken at a cost of Rs.109 million in Thunukkai, Manthai East and Oddusuddan areas.

Meanwhile, 10 outlets in Thnukkai, 9 outlets in Manthai East and six outlets in Oddusuddan have constructed to setup cooperatives at a cost of Rs.17 million.

Resettlement Process

The Government has resettled 6,783 members of 2,173 families in Thunukkai division, 5,276 members of 1,676 families in Manthai East division and 703 members of 214 families in Oddusuddan currently.

As soon as these areas were liberated the Government initiated the de-mining program. “A major part of the de-mining activities is conducted by the Sri Lanka Army and three Non Governmental Organizations in the East of Mullaitivu district to expedite the resettlement.

Displaced people in the Mullaitivu district were given all possible facilities they need. Their health and sanitation facilities were also kept at a high level with sufficient medical staff in each hospital and medical centers in the area.

Meanwhile, Resettlement and Disaster Relief Service Ministry has provided 21,960 tin sheets, Rs. 5,000 cash payment and agricultural tools for 1,830 families to resettled people in Thunukkai while 15,156 tin sheets, Rs.5,000 cash payment and agricultural tools for 1,263 families in Manthai East. Meanwhile, It has provided 1,032 tin sheets and Rs.5,000 cash payment and agricultural tools for 86 families in Oddusuddan have already been provided.

Local Government Office in Northern Province has provided 4 tractors and trailers, 01 land master and 2 push bicycles for resettled people in Thunukkai while Agrarian Services and Agriculture Development Ministry has provided 9 four wheel tractors for them.

Agriculture Ministry and Provincial Public Administration Secretariat in Northern Province have provided 10 tractors, 30 water pumps, 86 sprayers, 3 bicycles, 65 vegetable crates, 17 secateurs, 3 pruning saws, cutting knife, 30 bicycles and Rs.1,000 for 82 beneficiaries in Thunukkai. State Trading Corporation has provided 1,950 agriculture implement items were proved for resettlers in this division.

Meanwhile, UNHCR, IOM, WFP,NECORD and LEADS have also provided NFRI core kits and hygiene kits for 1,830 resettlers, 3 ambulance, 3 water bowsers, 15 water tanks, 01 water pump, 01 gully emptier, 1,275 timber set tents, 500 tarpaulin, 200 million tents, 6 Japan tents, 8 Mamties, 8 axes, 8 saws, 5 crow bars, 1 hammer, 5 knives, 20 bicycles and pumps, dry rations, 2 tractors, 575 half barrels and 560 plastic buckets to restterlers in Thunukkai.

Meanwhile, hygiene kits and tarpaulin for 1,263 families, 6 water tanks, 1,400 agricultural implement items, dry rations, 2 tractors, 5 water pumps, 12 sprayers, 2 bicycles, 15 vegetables crates, 10 secateurs and 15 vegetable crates, 20 bicycles and Rs.10,000 for 14 beneficiaries in resettled people in Manthai East.

In the Oddusuddan division, hygiene kits for 99 families, 6 water tanks, 3 tractors, 1 water bowser, 86 agricultural implementation items and dry rations had been provided.

Meanwhile, Among the health facility, mobile health services, health educational programs and Line awareness education programs are being conducted for the benefit of resettled people.

Seven schools in Thunukkai division have been reopened and 24 principals have reported to the zonal educational department in Thunukkai.

Meanwhile, 301 students in Thunukkai and Manthai East had faced the G.C.E O/L examination . Arragnments have been taken to reopen all schools in these three divisions in January.

Education Ministry, UNICEF and Provincial Ministry have provided delets school furniture to reopened schools in Thunukkai.

In addition, 9 cooperative outlets had opened in Thunukkai. Weekly mobile services are conducted by cooperative societies in Palayamurukandy and Puththuvedduvan resettled villages.

Eight outlets in Manthai East and two outlets in Oddusuddan are being implemented currently.

There are 10 major and medium tanks will provide water for the cultivation of 2,970 acres in Thunukkai. Twenty-one minor tanks will supply water for the cultivated land of 1,030 acres in Thunukkai. Cultivation activities are in progress in this division while 20 farmer organizations have already been registered in Thunukkai and Manthai East divisions.

Agricultural Department has provided 3,070 seeds of cowpea, maize, ground nuts, 500 cuttings of sweet potatoes, 1,000 cuttings of manioc, vegetable seeds and 1,027 home garden kits and 2,250 bushels of paddy seeds for the resettled people in Thunukkai.

Meanwhile, 400 jack fruit plants, 150 mango plants and 100 coconut plants have already been provided to resettlers in Thunukkai and Manthai East respectively.

Three post offices and two sub post offices have been opened in Thunukkai, Manthai East and Oddusudan recently. Pradeshya Sabhas in Thunukkai and Manthai East had started to function now. Banks, cultural centers and markets and libraries have also been opened currently. Meanwhile, 269 wells in Thunukkai, 50 wells in Manthai East and 4 wells in Oddusuddan had already cleaned by the Water Resources Board.

Preliminary actions for reconstruction of houses under the North East Housing Reconstruction program have commenced in Thunukkai, Manthai East and Oddusuddan.

Meanwhile, resettled farmers are engaged in paddy cultivation in 1,000 acres of lands in Thunukkai, Manthai East and Mallavi divisions.

Special Thanks

Task Force 3 in Mullaitivu Lt. Col. Keerthi Ranasinghe, Media Secretary to the Northern Governor Harindranath Chandrasiri