The era when people in the Eastern Province were living in constant fear is over, said Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, when he opened a Range Office on Saturday in Laugala.

He said the Range Office was built through the commitment of the Wildlife officers and the cost was much less than the estimated amount.

Ranawaka said plans are afoot to develop Ampara, Batticaloa, Embilipitiya and Hambantota areas. He said the government is determined to develop the Eastern Province even better than the Western Province under the Neganahira Navodaya.

However, Ranawaka said that development doesn’t mean that it would be another concrete jungle like Colombo, but an environmentally friendly area.

He also said that certain extremist politicians were critical of the Govt. saying that lands belonging to certain sections of the people were being grabbed.