Aug 17, Vavuniya: Progress of academic activities and development projects in Sri Lanka's conflict-affected Wanni region is at a higher level when compared to the other districts of the country, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said.

Presiding over the Wanni district development committee meeting today at the Vavuniya Divisional Secretariat, the President has discussed in depth on the progress of both the development projects which had been completed and which are already in progress in Vavuniya and Mannar districts.

The government has implemented development projects in number of fields including drinking water, roads, electricity, education and agriculture in Vavuniya and Mannar districts, the President has noted.

He has emphasized that the government has spent a large amount of money to develop the North and the East under the supervision of the Government Agents of the respective districts and therefore it is the responsibility of all public servants to grant the benefits of those to the people in the district.

The progress of resettlement of the displaced persons in the district and enhancing livelihood of the people were also reviewed at length at the meeting today.

The President also highlighted the need to implement electricity projects to provide electricity to all the people in the North and instructed the local officials to implement a streamlined program for garbage removal in Vavuniya District.

Building an Economic Centre in the Omanthai area of the Vavuniya district to benefit the growers as well as the people in the district was also mooted at the meeting.

Addressing the progress in education, the President noted that school children in Vavuniya and Mannar districts have reached similar level in education in comparison to other areas.

The President also discussed the issue of wild elephants and possible solutions to deal with the elephant problem.

All public officials in the district, ministers, parliamentarians, security forces commanders participated in the meeting.

(Photos by Nalin Hewapathirana)