Douglas in Jaffna to solve people's problems

JAFFNA: The day to day life of the Jaffna people which lingered behind during the past is gathering momentum since Minister Douglas Devananda opened an office in Jaffna and began to stay in Jaffna to address the day to day needs in the Jaffna District, stated a media release by the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry yesterday.

Minister Douglas Devananda who is also the Chairman of the Jaffna-Kilinochchi District Development Council, addressed the large crowds who flocked to his Jaffna office on March 22.

He said the response of the people who called on him to redress their grievances are indicative of their appreciation of and the confidence in the development process of the Government.

Nevertheless, the LTTE and the TNA Parliamentarians who are not happy about the new trend may disrupt the Government's welfare activities in the North as it might go against their principle, Minister Devananda said.

He said if the LTTE could give up violence and cooperate with the Government's development process, all the people could co-exist within a unitary State of Sri Lanka and live in peace and harmony. The Minister expressed fears that any resurgence of the LTTE in the Jaffna District may deprive the people of the many reliefs they hope to gain in the days to come.