Coastal Protection Committees for Jaffna

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

COLOMBO: Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda has made arrangements to set up Costal Protection Monitoring Committees in the Jaffna Peninsula to ensure the safety of fishermen in Jaffna, Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry Media Coordinator Nelson P. Edirisinghe said.

He said that Minister Devananda took this step after holding discussions with the fishing community in the Jaffna Peninsula. The Minister had consulted several fishing societies in Jaffna before taking the decision.

Minister Devananda also met the educational authorities in the Jaffna Peninsula and discussed issues affecting, school children in Jaffna.

It was decided to commence a special survey on school drop-outs and discover the reasons behind the problem. It was also decided to meet the existing shortage of English teachers in Jaffna by getting more trained teachers from the South and training voluntary teachers as English teachers.

The distribution of school text books and school uniforms will be done without any delay, he added. Minister Davananda also got approval for Grama Niladharis to work in Jafnna after consulting Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya.

This step was taken after the Grama Niladharies informed Minister Devananda about their difficulties.

They are now stranded in Jaffna unable to report back for duties, he pointed out.