Massive Development in Hambantota District
The Rohana Kingdom has been known as the land of heritage. It is from this land there emerged the great Kings of Sri Lanka. Hambantota, covering a land area of 2,579.3 sq. km, is the central and focal point on this great territory.
Hambantota District which consists of 1/25 of the Sri Lanka has 1,338 villages spread over 576 Grama Niladhari Divisions administered by 12 Divisional Development Secretariat Divisions, and 12 Police Stations. There are 576,268 persons resident in the District and it has two Urban Councils and 10 Pradeshiya Sabhas.
Mattala International Airport
20,409 sq.km of this district comes under forest cover. The District produced 214,245 metric tons of rice in 2009. During the last four years, the District which was totally neglected in the past had undergone a complete change with the implementation of a number of development projects including several giant development projects which could transform the South to the development path and benefit the country as a whole.
Al though there are 19 water canals flowing from the main river in the district, the Walawe Ganga, a dry climatic condition prevail in the district, during a major part of the year.
Overall Development
To overcome the hardships faced by the people of the district, and alleviate the discrepancies the people of the district were subjected in the past, the government spent a huge expenditure to develop roads, electricity supply, watersupply, education, health facilities, irrigation, agriculture, and other sectors. In the year 2006 the government spent Rs. 39 million under the decentralized budget, Rs. 61.79 million through Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 263.31 million through provisions made by Provincial Council, Rs. 557.26 million through other State authorities to implement these projects, amounting to a total sum of Rs. 921.36 million.
Similarly in the year 2007, the government spent a total sum of Rs. 3,098.35 million, representing Rs. 38.77 million provided by the decentralized budget, Rs. 1,029.95 provided by the Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 229.28 million provided by the Provincial Council,Rs. 1,614.25 million provided by State Authorities, Rs. 163.30 millionby the Maga Neguma Programme and Rs. 22.80 million by the Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma scheme.
Hambanthota Fishery Harbour
Continuing these developmentactivitiesfurther, the government spent Rs.7,297.73 million in the year 2008, representing Rs. 33.40 million provided by the decentralized budget, Rs. 498.79 provided by the Ministry of Plan Implementation, Rs. 280.80 million provided by the Provincial Council, Rs.5,882.41 million provided by State Authorities, Rs. 131 million by the Maga Neguma Programme and Rs. 471.33 million by the Jathika Saviya Gama Neguma scheme.
Large Scale Development Projects
In addition to the aforementioned projects, the government implanted and began work on several giant development projects during the last 4 years. Construction of the Hambantota Harbour is significant among these projects. This project, being implemented by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, is estimated to cost U.S.$ 360 million, which is equivalent to Sri Lankan Rupees 36,000 million.
The Matara-Kataragama Railway Line project, which is being implemented presently by the Ministry of Transport is estimated to cost U.S,$ 91 million, which will be equivalent to Rs. 9,100 million. Similarly, the International Conference Hall Complex is estimated to cost U.S.$ 15.3 million and the Administration Complex is estimated to cost U.S.$ 20.3 million. These two projects are being implemented by the Urban Development Authority.
Another huge project that would benefit the people of Hambantota district in particular, and the country as a whole will be the International Airport at Mattala. The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 1,500 million.
The Chemicals Manufacturing Project being constructed by the Laughs Salt and Chemicals Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd., is another major project that would benefit people of the district.
The Ministry of Mass Media and Information is constructing a huge complex, the Ranminitenna Tele-Cinema Garden in Tissamaharama in a 235 acre land. While this project would overcome a great shortage the country had, it would also provide employment opportunities to many people in the area.
Another major project being implemented in the district is the development of the development of the Walawe Left Bank Project. This project is being implemented by the Agriculture and Mahaweli Development Ministry at a cost of Rs. 1,000 Million.
Ranminithenna Cinema Village
There are several other major projects being implemented in the district. These include, Rs. 500 million Dry Zone Botanical Garden project being implemented by the Department of National Botanical Gardens, Rs. 450 million Safari Park Project being implemented by the Department of National Zoological Gardens, and Rs. 500 million estimated proposed Kekirimbada Reservoir Project.
The nation was engrossed with a cruel terrorist menace for the last three decades. The country’s leadership emerged from this remote and neglected district was capable of ending the terrorist menace and offer solace to the masses who were gripped with grief and fear. The leadership offered by this district successfully ended the nation’s terrorist menace and now it is the to embark on the Development Era under this able, patriotic and dedicated leadership, and offer a Model Nation to our Posterity.
(Source: www.development.lk – 19th January, 2010)