http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/03/16/pol01.asp

President wants speedy solutions to Tamil problems:
‘Sri Lanka ready to face any situation’
Over 99 percent IDPs resettled:
Nadira GUNATILLEKE
“President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the Cabinet of ministers that no matter
what happens in Geneva, we have to speedily solve problems of the Tamil people
and upgrade their living standards. Sri Lanka is ready to face any situation
arising in the future,” Economic Development Deputy Minister and acting Media
Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Government Information
Department Auditorium yesterday, Minister Yapa said that over 99 per cent of
IDPs have been resettled and a massive development drive is on in the North to
provide infrastructure facilities to the Tamil people.
“Sri Lanka’s resettlement process is a very good example for countries with
war and internal conflicts,” he said.
The Sri Lankan government gave priority to reconstruct the Northern line
railway track at a cost of Rs 800 million delaying the construction of the new
Kataragama railway track in the South. This type of instant development had
never taken place anywhere in the world before, he said.
According to Minister Yapa, the Sri Lankan public commenced handing over
petitions to embassies and High Commissions in Sri Lanka yesterday.
“Petitions have been handed over to the embassies of the US, UK, Norway and
Sweden. Special delegations have been sent to African countries to educate them
on the issue. The government never neglected the development of the country
because of terrorism or the humanitarian operation,” he said.
The Divi Neguma stage three is to be launched countrywide covering 2.5
million families. It will cover 14,000 Grama Seva Niladhari divisions. A team of
42,000 officers will take part in the programme. House to house visits in
order to collect required data is taking place from March 1 to 31 March. Plants,
seeds and fertilizer to be given to the public. Commercial crops are to be
cultivated in lands from quarter acre to two and half acres. The selection crops
will be made according to areas in order to avoid extra production. The
programme will be launched countrywide on March 23 at 10.16 am", Minister Yapa
added.