Houses, water and electricity for all plantation sector families

People in the plantation areas are already enjoying the fruits of the government’s development programs. All of them will be soon provided with houses, water supply and electricity.  Infrastructure for this purpose is now being built, according to Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

He also states that the government has given priority to raising the educational level of all schools in these areas by appointing graduates from the plantation sector to the tutorial staffs.

Minister Rajapaksa was addressing a meeting held at Hatton on Friday (April 20) to welcome the visiting Indian Opposition Parliamentary delegation led by Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj.  A large gathering was present at the event held DKW Hall presided over by Ceylon Workers Congress Leader and Minister of Livestock Resources and Rural Community Development Arugmugam Thondaman.

At Dikoya, CWC Chairman and Economic Development Deputy Minister Muthtu Sivalingam and other Congress members welcomed the Indian Parliamentary Delegation when it arrived at the Darawala playground. Later they went on an observation tour of the Darawala and Wanaraja plantation housing complexes. Ministers Basil Rajapaksa and Dullas Alahapperuma and other invitees too participated in the event.

Speaking further Minister Rajapaksa said that India’s assistance to Sri Lanka for building infrastructure in the plantation sector to provide the people with health, education and housing facilities was a great strength to the Sri Lankan Government.  The Minister added that the government has already taken steps to improve livestock resources and promote rural community development in these areas.

He observed that the Indian delegation had honored the people of Indian origin in the plantation sector by visiting them.  He told the visitors that these people have been living as one family with the rest of Sri Lankans for centuries.

According to Minister Rajapaksa steps have been taken to provide jobs for graduates in the plantation sector and also give vocational training to young people in the plantations. He attributed this to the major transformation taking place in these areas under the Divi Neguma and Gama Neguma programs.

Minister Arumugam Thondaman, Indian Opposition Leader Sushma Swaraj and Deputy Minister Muthtu Sivalingam also addressed those present.