Basic needs of some 300,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) now accommodated at welfare centres in Vavuniya and Jaffna would be taken care of by the government in keeping with ‘Uthurata Vasanthaya Programme’, Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapakse, MP, said.

Addressing a large gathering at Thandikulam, north of Vavuniya after Yal Devi reached the northern most railway station, he said that the government was confident of meeting the challenge. The people of the South would back our efforts, he said.

The Yaldevi’s last journey was on 1990 June 13 a few days before the LTTE seized sections of the Kandy-Jaffna A 9 road.

He said that the government was going ahead with development work in the Eastern Province. The war devastated Northern Province, too, would be developed, he said, the government would make every effort to provide assistance required by the people living in the liberated areas.

He said that wouldn’t have been a reality without the great sacrifices made by armed forces. He promised to gradually extend train services upto Kankasanthurai. In addition, roads, too, would be restored along with agriculture development in the North and the East.

He accused a section of the media of brazenly trying to undermine government efforts. Referring to photograph carried by the print media of some IDPs sleeping in a card board box, the MP said that it was a hoax. There was absolutely no truth in pro-LTTE propaganda, he said.

Transport Minister Dallas Allhapperuma said that the launch of services north of Vavuniya would help bring people together. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa wanted to finish the project as soon as possible and had donated his April salary for it.

He appealed for assistance from the people of the South to maintain the Yaldevi’s service to the North.

Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda thanked President Mahinda Rajapakse for implementing ‘Uthurata Vasanthaya’ and promised his support for the President’s endeavour.

In a gesture of friendship a token representation of young women from both North and East joined ministers in the inaugural journey.