LTTE protection money demand aborts JICA mission

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) which was due to donate medical equipment worth millions of rupees to hospitals in the North called off their mission due to protection money demanded by the LTTE, a Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry spokesman said.

He said Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva held discussions with TNA MPs Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and Suresh Premachandran in connection with the issue and requested them to inform the LTTE not to extort money from the JICA.

The two MPs had promised to discuss the issues with the LTTE and solve the problem.

De Silva also discussed about the development of the healthcare system in the Northern and Eastern Provinces with the two TNA MPs and the members of the GMOA.

During the discussion, the Minister informed that all interns and post-interns graduated from the Medical Faculty of the Jaffna University will be attached to the North and East hospitals for one year before their transfer.