The Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Ministry in collaboration with Local Government Ministry and Disaster Relief Ministry will commence a large-scale Urban Development and Management project in the Batticoloa district shortly. The respective Pradeshiya Shabas, Provincial councils and local authorities in the district will also join the project, Urban Development Ministry sources said.

Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told The Island that under the "Mahinda Chintanaya" 10-year Development Plan had been formulated by his Ministry and it would be implemented in co-ordination with Local Government and Disaster Relief Ministries. The plan would focus on developing human and physical resources in local government bodies on a set framework. The respective local bodies would be principally responsible for preparing necessary backgrounds for development activities in respective areas.

He emphasised that the project would also lay a special emphasis on training young men and women in human resources and alleviate poverty under the United Nations Development target. It would eliminate shanties and provide better sanitation and drinking water facilities.People in the Batticoloa district had been suffering from untold hardships for two decades as a consequence of the war and it was pathetic situation that a large number of people were living in abject poverty,because infrastructure had been devastated by the war.

Local Government Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said that the Batticoloa district had been prioritised to be developed because the district was tsunami-hit area with war remnants.The government had taken back the district from the clutches of LTTE.The most important thing would be that the would -be provincial council members would be able to rule the areas without troubles.As a responsible government it was the bounden duty to develop the district and create a conducive atmosphere over there for people to lead better lives.

He added that an investment to the value of Rs.36 million had already been signed in the district the government was certain that the investment would be of immense value to the area because employment opportunities,educational facilities for children,sanitation facilities would enhance the lives of people.