President opens Sri Lanka Deyata Kirula Development Exhibition

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa this evening declared open the 7th Deyata Kirula National Development Exhibition at the Ampara Hardy Higher Technology Institution in the Eastern Province.
The massive development exhibition, held annually since 2006 was opened for the general public from today until the 29th of this month.

The President was welcomed by Chairman of the Deyata Kirula Exhibition Committee Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya to the event and a young boy presented the Sword of Deyata Kirula to the President to mark the inauguration of the exhibition.

Speaking at the event, the President said the Deyata Kirula is not merely an exhibition or display, but it is an occasion that brings massive development to a rural area.

"All people should experience the development. That is why it was brought to Ampara bringing all communities together," he said noting that not only Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities but other communities such as the Adi vasis (aborigines) also live in the region.

The exhibition gives an idea of development to the children to accept the responsibility of the future since there is no peace without development and no development without peace, the President emphasized.

This year, the Deyata Kirula Exhibition premises spans about 120 acres. About 400 exhibition stalls maintained by the state and private sector showcase their products and services. About 53 ministries, the three armed forces and the police are on display at the exhibition.

It showcases products and services of government, private and international organizations, and displays the past development activities in the country as well as future development projects.

The Deyata Kirula exhibition is being held in rural areas with the aim of developing those areas. The exhibition brings massive infrastructure development, especially roads and public facilities to the area slated to hold the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

It is generally held to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations in February, but this year the exhibition was postponed due to bad weather in the Eastern province that delayed construction of necessary infrastructure.

The President has declared that the 8th Deyata Kirula exhibition next year will be held in Kurunegala to bring development to Kurunegala, Kegalle and Puttalam districts, and the Independence Day celebrations will be held in Kegalle district.

The President also opened several other establishments in the Ampara district. He declared open the regional office of the People�s Bank in Ampara this morning and a new two-storied building for the new pathology and pediatric units of the Ampara hospital.

The President also participated in distribution of ambulances to Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara hospitals symbolizing the distribution of 250 ambulances amongst hospitals in the country.

A large number of ministers, parliamentarians and diplomats participated in those events.

(Photos by Sudath Silva)