Facelift for Delft on President’s order

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the authorities to provide all facilities to Delft Island, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda said.

He was chairing the Velanai Divisional Secretariat Division Development Council meeting recently. Devananda said that the President had instructed to provide all facilities needed by Delft Island as the government had won the recently held local government election with a percentage more than it won in the Hambantota district.

All main roads will be developed and manpower will be obtained from people in Delft Island, he added.

He also instructed the officials to increase the frequency of the trips to and from the island by Northern Star and Kumudini ferries and to maintain a satisfactory CTB bus service.

The minister also made arrangements to provide the services of a medical officer, two nurses, sanitary labourers and a driver for the Delft District Hospital ambulance. Rs. 100,000 for the rehabilitation of drinking water wells to the Delft Pradeshiya Sabha, rehabilitation of three tanks and 53 ponds for the use of animals in the area too would be immediately attended to, Devananda said.

He said that in addition to providing 329 modern houses constructed by the Navy in turn of 10 houses per month to 329 homeless families, a three acre block of land would also be allotted to them to grow vegetables.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry Secretary S Sivagnanasothy said Ministers Devananda and Basil Rajapaksa had set aside Rs 50 million to develop the Delft Island.

Northern Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri and Navy Commander of the North Rear Admiral Ravindra C. Wijayaguruge also spoke.