Lanka Govt. reveals development plans for north and east

Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe of Sri Lanka has said that the incumbent government will soon announce development plans for the country's northern and eastern areas, with a focus on agriculture and industry.

Addressing a United National Front (UNF) rally in Vavuniya this week, Wickramasinghe said the Trincomalee Harbor will be developed to add special contribution to the national economy.

He promised that Trincomalee would be the next Singapore in terms of development and economic potential.

The government, he said, would also take steps to create more jobs in the East, and added that a coal powered power station would soon be established in Sampur.

Wickramasinghe said the guaranteed price for paddy will be maintained continuously.

In another public meeting held in Nallur Jaffna, Wickramasinghe said steps will be taken to uplift technical education in Jaffna, and added that an information technology zone will also be set up in the area.

The Cement Corporation factory in Kankasanthurai and the Paranthan Chemical factory would also be revived to provide more employment opportunities, the Colombo Page web site quoted him, as saying further.