Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced a pay hike for the security forces,who helped in wiping the LTTE out,even as the government pledged development and rehabilitation for displaced civilians in the war ravaged north. The President made this announcement during his unannounced visit to Mankulam,Mannar where he addressed war heroes who had engaged in the humanitarian operation in the Wanni to defeat terrorism,according to the defence ministry. "The President reminded the security forces that there had been a time when the country was divided through an agreement," the ministry said adding people at that time were scared of bomb explosions. He expressed his gratitude to the support extended by the security forces when the battle was launched to bring that tragic era to an end,it said. Meanwhile,a senior Minister has said Rajapaksa has decided not to compromise,under any circumstances,on the funds needed for development of North. Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said this at a ceremony held at the Vavuniya Teaching Hospital on Monday. The Minister opened a new maternity clinic,labour room,chest clinic and the nurses quarters built at a cost of Rs 22 million on the occasion. The Minister also presented appointment letters to 135 family health workers who had completed the training at the Nursing school at Vavuniya,the state run Daily News reported. During the period of the LTTE war in the past,all the hospitals,MOH offices and rural health clinics in the North were badly damaged,he said. However,with the dawn of peace here,they will be developed very shortly under the 'Uthuru Vasanthaya' (development) concept,the Minister said. There are more than 110 doctors serving in welfare villages at present,the newspaper reported. "Already we have resettled over 70,000 IDPs in their villages and the balance too will be resettled as early as possible," the newspaper quoted the minister to say. "Once these people are fully resettled,their health needs too will be properly looked into. Then the doctors presently serving in these welfare villages will be absorbed into hospitals in the North," De Silva said. Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri,Former Parliamentarian Dharmalingam Siddharthan and Minister Rishard Bathiudeen were also present on the occasion.
