Mahaweli Development, Agriculture and Trade Minister and Defence State Minister Chamal Rajapaksa addressing the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Hambantota Women’s Development Federation (WDF) at the Singapore conference hall in Hambantota said women in the district have been empowered by the development projects implemented by the Women’s Development Federation in the district.
He said the Federation which was started in 1989 in 12 Divisional Secretariat (DS) divisions in the Hambantota District later expanded to five DS divisions in the Moneragala District. Currently, it has 85,000 members, making it the largest Women’s Development Federation in Sri Lanka.
The Minister said the WDF is a tower of strength and a beacon of hope for women from lower-income group families. He said every development project launched by the Government during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa which was curtailed and abandoned by the Yahapalana regime will be reorganized and recommenced. “As a result of halting the development projects initiated by us, thousands of people were left high and dry making it impossible for them to keep their home fires burning,” he said.
He said the information technology institution in Suriyawewa now remains abandoned. He said the strength of youth is required to steer the village on a progressive path. Agricultural zones will be earmarked for export-oriented crops by the Agricultural Ministry which will provide free facilities. “A country cannot attain economic growth all alone by itself. Instead, the only way we could arrest this tendency is by increasing foreign investments and boosting exports,” Minister Rajapaksa said.
Professor W.G. Kularatna, J. Weeraratna and many others were present.
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