With the dawn of a stable peace, the Puttalam area will be a hive of economic activity, and the upgrading of services is being undertaken by the Government on a priority basis to exploit this potential to the fullest extent in the interest of the people, Professor G. L. Peiris, Minister of Export Development and International Trade and acting Minister of Posts and Telecommunication, said recently.

He was speaking at the opening of the post office complex in Palaviya. A. K. Baisz, Deputy Minister of Livestock Development, and Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, were associated with Prof. Peiris at this function.

The road opposite the post office complex, linking Puttalam with Mannar and Pooneryn, will be an extremely busy highway in the near future, and the people of the area will reap the benefits of the upsurge of economic activity which will follow, Minister Peiris said.

The Kalpitiya area, situated close by, is an ideal location for tourism, and several companies of established stature have already begun to show keen interest in commencing major projects, he continued. Moreover, several important wind power projects are also being initiated in the locality, adding substantially to the national grid. Increased power generation will administer a timely fillip to industrial activity in the country, he observed.

There has already been an increase of about 15% in tourist arrivals, and investment inflows are recording a marked improvement, he noted.

In this environment, the government is moving rapidly to modernize and upgrade the services sector, he said. With this objective in view, the new postal complex has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 12 million.

Responding to a request by Deputy Minister Baisz, Minister Peiris said that an internet café will soon be established within the precincts of the postal complex. Broadband connection is already available, and the necessary computers have been obtained by the Postal Department.

He told his audience about the recent initiative by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunication to improve the money orders service by the introduction of modern technology.

All these developments will bring very significant benefits to all the people in the vicinity, irrespective of ethnic origin. This is why all communities, without distinction, appreciate the President’s achievement in eradicating terrorism from Sri Lankan soil and dismantling the financial and propaganda network of the LTTE, he emphasized. This is amply reflected in the results of the Uva Provincial Council election, where all the communities had contributed to the historic victory achieved by the Government, he commented.

Deputy Minister Neomal Perera said that the atmosphere of peace and tranquility prevailing in the country had enabled the Catholic community to celebrate the Madhu festival after a very long period, and that this was greatly appreciated.

Post-Master General Dissanayake said that the Government’s recent initiative had brought about a timely expansion of the facilities available in the post office which had been established in 1975.