KURUNEGALA: The defeat of Tigers in the east by the government is a great feat making it possible to free the east from the LTTE's bondage and allowing the Tamil people to enjoy their freedom without any restraint, said T. B. Ekanayaka, Minister of Road Development at a meeting held at the district secretariat conference hall recently.

Ekanayaka said the government had started a massive development initiative in eastern Sri Lanka known as 'Negenahira Navodaya' (Eastern Resurgence).

The government's objective was to bring normalcy back to the east as early as possible, he added.

"Eastern Sri Lanka is considered by the present government as a vital region of the island in terms of economic development and tens of thousands of people there are now seeking government assistance to live a normal life as they enjoyed in the good old days prior to the LTTE terror," Minister Ekanayaka said.

While making efforts to assist the Tamil and the Muslim communities in the east, the government was fighting against LTTE terrorists in the North, he said. He said "the LTTE's brutality will have no place in this island in the future."

Ekanayaka said this was the time for all those who think of the 'common interest' to unite in the name of the country's future and all those who have common sense to support the government to fight the terrorists and bring prosperity to the country.

However, UNP (the United National Party) criticised all work done by the government but hypocrisy will not last long, said he.

"Hypocrites cannot pull the wool over the eyes of the discerning public on the question of war against terrorism', added he.

The Minister for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Jayaratna Herath and the North Western Provincial Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation R. D. Wimaladasa were also with the Minister of Road Development.

First electronic management office at Kerawalapitiya, PS

The Karuwalagaswave divisional secretariat, situated in a remote area in close proximity to Wilpattu Sanctuary in the Puttalam district has set up Sri Lanka's first electronic management system.

The facility provided will facilitate the villagers to get the required data from the comprehensive computerised network to expedite solutions.

This system has been installed by Divisional Secretary Chandrasiri Bandara with the cooperation of his office and field staff to bring out efficiency in Management and to attend to the needs of the public without delay.