'Treat Govt. Forces as people-friendly' - Social Services Minister

Razeena Razick

JAFFNA: Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda commended the services by the Security Forces during his recent visit to Jaffna, and urged the Jaffna citizens to treat the Government Armed Forces as people friendly. Devananda said his visit to Jaffna was meant to find solutions to a number of problems faced by Jaffna citizens.

During his recent visit he met the fisher folk who urged to grant them permission to tow ashore their boats and fishing gears abandoned in the sea.

They also requested a relief package until they could resume their livelihood, Ministry sources said.

The Minister who listened to the woes of the community told them that he would do his best to help them overcome their problems.

While sympathising with the victims of LTTE terror, he pointed out that destructions caused by the Tigers had placed the Jaffna people in a pathetic situation and it was high time for the people of Jaffna to rise to the occasion without being docile to the terrorists and that was the only way they could overcome the problems faced by them.

"The LTTE terrorists continued their attacks against the State Armed Forces lurking behind people, causing immense destruction to both property and lives," the Minister said.

Ministry sources added that a special conference was also held in Jaffna by a Committee comprising the Jaffna Government Agent, top officials of the Armed Forces, Divisional Secretaries and representatives from the Fisher Community, to address the problems faced by fisher community, during the Minister's visit .