President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the relevant authorities to alleviate long-term teacher shortages in schools in villages and introduce new technology to farmers to increase their harvest as measures to alleviate poverty.
The President instructed the education authorities to immediately call for applications to fill vacancies in mathematics, science, English and computer technology teachers that have existed in schools for a long time. New recruitments will be made for certain subject vacancies on the basis of eight years of service in the same school where the appointments were made.
“More land is needed to grow crops. Therefore, suitable lands for cultivation should be identified as soon as possible. Increasing land productivity is equally important to increase yields. To this end, assist farmers to introduce modern technology,” the President said.

The program to provide employment to 100,000 people selected from the families from the lowest income strata of the society was implemented with the objective of alleviating poverty. The recruits are given multi-purpose training not limited to one field. The President urged the people not to disrupt this program which was designed for the betterment of the poorest families.
The President was speaking at the 12th “Conversation with the Village” program held at the Kivulekadawala College premises in the Kivulekadawala Grama Niladhari Division in the Gomarankadawala Divisional Secretariat Division of the Trincomalee District Saturday (27).

The “Conversation with the Village” program was launched on September 25, 2020 in the Badulla District. Past programs were organized covering Matale, Ratnapura, Anuradhapura, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Kalutara, Moneragala, Kegalle, Kandy and Puttalam districts. The President’s aim is to meet the people of the remote villages outside the city who have not been given due attention so far, to inquire into their problems and immediately bring them to the attention of the officials and provide solutions.
Problems that take time to resolve will be noted to be addressed later. The aim of the “Conversation with the Village” program is to reach out to the people of the village, ask their questions and find solutions through their own suggestions.
Gomarankadawala is located 45 km from Trincomalee town on the border of Morawewa, Kuchchaveli, Padavi Sri Pura and Horowpathana areas in the Anuradhapura district. The distance from Gomarankadawala town center to Kivulekadawala village is 8 km. The Department of Archeology has identified this village as having many ruins belonging to the Anuradhapura period. Prior to 2009, Gomarankadawala and surrounding villages were frequently attacked by terrorists.
The villages of Kivulekadawala, Adampane, Kootitikulama and Konabendiwewa belong to the Kivulekadawala Grama Niladhari Division. The population of Kivulekadawala village is 1191 with 416 families. Out of these 125 families are Samurdhi recipients. Paddy cultivation is the main livelihood of the majority of the people. Maize, cowpea, groundnut and vegetables are grown as supplementary crops.
The President while on his way to Kivulekadawala College to participate in the ‘Conversation with the Village’ program asked the people gathered on both sides of the road for information and problems in the area. He also had a Conversation with the people of several nearby houses and inquired about the paddy harvest this season.

The President explained to farmers that the government has taken steps to purchase paddy with moisture that cannot be sold at a minimum price of Rs. 50 per kilo for Rs. 43 per kilo. He said the farmers could sell their paddy to the government or any other party and the government has not imposed any conditions on it.
Prior to the commencement of the ‘Conversation with the Village’ program, SLT Mobitel and the State Ministry of School Infrastructure and School Services inaugurated the familiar classroom at Kivulekadawala College and handed over the TV set and connection provided by Dialog to the Principal.
President Rajapaksa observed the “invention of the pair of shoes, generating electricity while walking” designed by Conversationhura Madhumal, a student of Gamtalawa Maha Vidyalaya, Kantale.

President Rajapaksa has decided to promote library facilities in schools in all areas where he participates in the ‘Conversation with the Village’ program. The President presented books to schools on the theme ‘A generation of intelligent children’. One school receives 500 books in various subjects.
The threat of wild elephants has been a major problem for the people of Gomarankadawala for a long time. The villagers were previously victims of terrorist terror. President Rajapaksa instructed the officials to issue deeds to the traditional villagers who were displaced by the war and returned to their villages after the dawn of peace. It was decided to hold a land Kachcheri to resolve land issues in Mahadivulwewa and Divulwewa areas.
It was decided to appoint a committee headed by the District Commissioner to provide immediate relief to the people who have been affected by the loss of land due to the Yang Oya project for a long time and to resolve other issues.
As a solution to the threat of wild elephants, it is planned to construct a 67 km long elephant fence covering many areas in the Trincomalee District within the next year.
President Rajapaksa directed the Forest Department to complete the work expeditiously and to activate the inactive elephant fences in Bakmigama, Medawachchiya, Thambalagamuwa, Dahaiganuwa, Morawewa and other villages. The President emphasized the need for the Divisional Secretary, Forest Conservation Officers and farmers’ organizations to construct and protect the elephant fence.
Gomarankadawala area is considered as one of the most difficult educational areas in the island. Lack of infrastructure, physical resources and teachers have led to many educational problems.
Rs. 34 million has been allocated for the construction and renovation of teachers’ quarters in 34 schools in the Trincomalee District and water filters are planned to be installed in 15 schools as a solution to the drinking water problem, the Education Secretary said.
Steps have been taken to call for applications next week to fill vacancies for teachers of subjects including Mathematics, English, Science and Computer Technology, which are found in all schools in the country, the Education Secretary said.
It was also stated that it is planned to provide 05 computers to each Pirivena in the Trincomalee District and to develop playgrounds and infrastructure facilities for the students of all Pirivena Colleges in the island.
The President instructed the officials to construct a meeting hall and classrooms for Kivulekadawala School, to develop the infrastructure facilities of all schools in the district including Gomarankadawala Maha Vidyalaya and to address the shortage of teachers.
The naming of Gomarankadawala as an education zone and the development of Mahadivulwewa Maha Vidyalaya as a trilingual model school were discussed.
The President paid special attention to the rehabilitation of the agricultural road network in the area including Adampane – Pulikandikulam, Epagama – Konabendiwewa, Kivulekadawala – Helambawewa, Koottikulam by-roads.
The President directed the Road Development Authority to carpet and develop 41 roads from Tiriyaya Junction to Girihandu Seya Viharaya, Bakmeegama – Rangiri Ulpatha and Malporuwa – Pulmude Road within the next three years.
The President also emphasized the need to address the shortcomings of many places of worship, including the Adampane Khettarama Temple.
Poor health facilities are another problem faced by the people in the area. It was decided to address the shortage of medical, nursing and other staff at several hospitals including Gomarankadawala Rural Hospital and Kantale Base Hospital, Morawewa, Thambalagamuwa and to develop infrastructure facilities.
President Rajapaksa focused on the number of kidney patients in the Padavi Sri Pura area and stressed the need to establish a blood transfusion unit as soon as possible.
The President instructed the officials to repair the irrigation system including Pulikandikulama Wewa, Konabendiwewa, Epagama Amuna, Thimbiriwewa, Epagama Wewa, Maha Helamba Wewa and provide necessary facilities for cultivation. The Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation stated that Rs. 125 million has been allocated for the rehabilitation of 39 tanks in the area and another 99 tanks will be developed under the ‘Irrigation Prosperity’ project.
The Secretary to the Ministry of Water Supply and Drainage said that the Adampane water project has been designed to solve the drinking water problem in 54 Grama Niladhari Divisions.
Governor of the Eastern Province Anuradha Yahampath, Member of Parliament Kapila Athukorala, Chief Adviser to the President Lalith Weeratunga, People’s Representatives of the District, Secretaries to Ministries, Heads of Government and Security Forces and a large number of people participated in the ‘Conversation with the Village’ program at Kivulekadawala. (PMDNews)