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Jaffna development gets priority attention

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Under the peace process implemented by the UNF Government, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and about 17 Cabinet and Non-Cabinet Ministers have already visited the Jaffna peninsula to take immediate measures to develop the North.

This was the first time that a Prime Minister visited Jaffna after 20 years. A large number of Ministers have made official visits to Jaffna before and after the ceasefire with the LTTE, giving a clear message to the Northern residents that the Government is committed to end the war and uplift their socio-economic conditions. The Ministers who visited Jaffna have drawn up plans to take immediate measures at Ministry level to develop Jaffna.

Among the Ministers who visited Jaffna are Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, Defence Minister Thilak Marapane, Foreign Affairs Minister Tyronne Fernando, Fisheries and Ocean Resources Minister Mahinda Wijesekera, Port Development, Shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister Rauf Hakeem, Housing and Plantation Infrastructure Minister Arumugam Thondaman, Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge, Western Region Development Minister M. H.Mohamad, Water Management Minister Lakshman Seneviratne, Irrigation Minister H. G. P.Nelson, School Education Minister Suranimala Rajapakse, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Johnston Fernando, Economic Reform, Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda, Industries Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Tertiary Education and Training Minister Kabir Hashim and Hindu Affairs Minister T. Maheswaran.

Several more Ministers are to visit Jaffna in the next few weeks.

Minister Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena who has played a major role in the peace process has already taken several key initiatives to develop the Jaffna city. The Ministry has implemented a major project to renovate the Jaffna library and all arrangements have been finalised to open the library before May 25.

The Ministry has implemented a National survey on displaced persons in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Census and Statistics to plan and prepare for a durable solutions for internally displaced persons. The Ministry has already commenced this survey in the North.

Dr. Jayawardena who has made several visits to Jaffna also took steps to upgrade the Jaffna hospital and renovate all bridges in Jaffna with the assistance of the Road Development Authority. In addition, 4,000 telephones will be provided to Jaffna before the end of this year.

The Ministry also organised a cultural festival in connection with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year promoting ethnic harmony among all nationalities. This is the first time that this kind of cultural festival was conducted in Jaffna after 20 years. A "Sama Daham Yathra" commenced by the Ministry from Kataragama Kirivehera is now on its way for the pinnacle laying ceremony of the Naga Vihara in Jaffna.

The Irrigation and Water Management Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera has taken steps to renovate irrigation systems which are not presently operated in Jaffna to provide water for cultivation without any hindrance. New officers will also be appointed to operate them immediately.

A Ministry spokesman said 25 small tanks utilised for cultivation will and 20 wells which provide drinking water will be renovated. In his visit, Minister Jayawickrama conducted discussions to develop Thondamanaru and Ariyalai harbours.

As a result of Industries Minister Rohitha Bogollagama's visit to Jaffna, various investors have pledged to set up industries in Jaffna. This has also resulted in close links between businessmen in Jaffna and in Colombo, a Ministry spokesman said.

He said five or six investors are to commence business ventures in Jaffna. The Sampath Bank has already opened a branch in Jaffna while Aitken Spence Limited has planned to set up several business promotion activities. At present a lot of development activities are being conducted in Jaffna, he said.

Following the visit of Tourism Minister Gamini Lokuge, a hotel school was set up in Jaffna for the benefit of youth who were yearning for job opportunities in the hotel and tourism sectors. Initially, this school is conducting three training courses on hotel management, house management and reception for 75 youths.

A Ministry spokesman said Minister Lokuge also inquired into the possibility of setting up tourist hotels in Jaffna coastal areas including Casuarina and Kayts beaches.

Fisheries and Ocean Development Minister Mahinda Wijesekera who inspected the fisheries activities in Jaffna pledged to provide Rs. 1,000 million for fisheries development there. The Ministry plans to set up an ice factory, cold room and 10 fisheries villages in Jaffna.

The Ministry will expand the fisheries resources management to the North too. In addition a survey will be conducted on ocean resources in the North.

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