Jaffna reawakening

Massive development drive:

Irangika RANGE in Jaffna

During the four-year tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, a new era was heralded in the North opening new vistas for its future prosperity through his policy document Mahinda Chinthanaya.

The development of the North's economic and social infrastructure was expedited to a level that the country had never witnessed, under the Uthuru Vasanthaya which had provided significant infrastructure facilities to the people in the North whose lives were wrecked by the LTTE during the past three decades.

Brisk business in Jaffna town

The herculean task of giving a new lease of life to the North is being executed under the Presidential Special Task Force on Rehabilitation and Resettlement headed by Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP, who toured the region to observe the work in progress to expedite the clearing of mines to facilitate resettlement of families and provide all facilities to farmers who are trying to restart their normal livelihoods after the total eradication of terrorism.

According to Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, a number of new and large infrastructure projects such as ports, roads, power projects, water projects, hotels, apartment development, religious places infrastructure development, hospitals and schools are nearing completion while many development have already been completed at regional level in the entire Jaffna peninsula.

The Government has taken measures to fully realize the inherent potential of the Jaffna people for the benefit of all inhabitants in the district.

Development in the Jaffna district was lagging behind for the past 30 years due to the war, but it began to develop rapidly since President Mahinda Rajapaksa prioritized its development projects through his national policy.

On this occasion, the Government has been able to implement the aspirations and objectives embodied in the Mahinda Chintana policies to benefit the people living in Jaffna under the "Uthuru Wasanthaya 180 days development program". In comparison to the other districts during this past four years, the rapid development activities in the Jaffna district has become a focal point in Sri Lanka.

Today, Jaffna is reawakening with a massive development drive which has contributed largely to boost the Jaffna economy enabling the people who were displaced as a result of brutal LTTE terrorism for nearly three decades to recommence their normal livelihood in a peaceful and free environment.

Jaffna at a glance

Jaffna district is the Northern end of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, about 410 km away from Colombo. It consists of the peninsula and seven inhabited Islands. The North, East and West boundaries of the district are the Indian Ocean. On the South is the Jaffna Lagoon and Killinochchi District. The total land area including inland waters is 1,025 sq. kms. Jaffna District is divided into four Sub Divisions. They are Islands of Vallikamam, Thenmaradchi and Vadamaradchi. The land in Jaffna district could be characterized as flat with less than five degree inclination . There are over 631 ponds and 2,433 ditches scattered all over the district with connected channels to conserve rain water. Excess water easily drained into the sea and the lagoon. The levels are Point Pedro 15.24m, Myliddy 10.8m. Chankanai 3.04m and Kokuvil 6.09m above Sea level. Jaffna district falls under the dry zone. Peak rainfall is during the months of October to December during North East Monsoon and scattered during April to May.

Cultivation of an abandoned paddy field

According to the 1981 census the population of the district was 831,800 (Including Kilinochchi district which was part of Jaffna District in 1981) and based on the natural growth rate, it is projected that the population of Jaffna district would be more than 1,000,000 in 2005. But the population as at April 2007 is only 650,720. The difference between the projected population and the present population may be due to the following reasons. Migration out of the district and to foreign countries. The family size is reduced due to frequent displacements of the family members on account of the unsettled conditions. Displacement outside the district and decline in natural growth trend.

Jaffna district is divided into 15 administrative divisions such as Delft, Islands South, Islands North, Karainagar, Jaffna, Nallur, Valikamam South West, Valikamam West, Valikamam South, Valikamam North, Valikamam East, Thenmaradchi, Vadamaradchi South West, Vadamaradchi North and Vadamaradchi East. There are 435 Grama Sevaka Officers divisions in this district. Seventeen local bodies including Municipal Council in Jaffna, Urban Councils in Chavakachcheri, Point Pedro and Velvettithurai and 13 Pradeshiya Shabhas in Delft, Islands South, Islands North, Nallur, Valikamam South West, Valikamam West, Valikamam North, Valikamam East, Chavakachcheri, Vadamaradchi South West , Point Pedro and Krainagar are functioning in the Jaffna district.

Agriculture and Irrigation

Jaffna district is predominantly an agricultural area and always has been an area with high potential in agriculture. Crops such as red onion, chillies, potatoes, tobacco, vegetables, banana and grapes are cultivated for commercial purposes. Other crops such as paddy, pulses, coconut cultivation in subsistences level, palmyrah products also a subsistence source of income. About 65,400 families and 30,000 farm labourers are involved in agriculture and livestock in the district. In addition a large share of the population is engaged in home gardens. Paddy is cultivated in 8,068 hectares and other field crops are also cultivated in Jaffna district. About 19,261 agro wells and 2,433 ditches are being used for agricultural purposes.

Paddy is produced during the Maha season under the rain-fed conditions while vegetables are produced nearly all year around under rain-fed or irrigated conditions. Mainly ground water resources are being used for agricultural purposes. There are two lagoons in Jaffna District. One is Vadamarachchi and the other is Upparu lagoon.

According to the statistics in 2008, Chili, red onion, potatoes, kurakkan, green grams, black grams, cowpea, ground nut, gingerly, tobacco, manioc, betel, beetroot and other vegetable have cultivated in hectares of 340, 550, 19, 97, 87, 54, 37, 13, 693, 766, 306, 51, 927 respectively for Maha season while the production of these items were 589mt, 5315mt, 143mt, 78mt, 43mt, 37mt, 18mt, 4mt, 224mt, 2,442 mt, 4,127 mt, 657mt and 6,485 mt respectively had yield for the Maha season. The average annual milk production is 11,022, 270 litters in the Jaffna district in 2008.

Jaffna as a whole has experienced much progress in varied spheres in the aftermath of war. This has not been confined to one single area, but has reached even the remotest of all areas in the district.

The Government has allocated Rs.2695 million for the development in the Jaffna district last year. Massive development projects in the fields of transport, health, education, human resettlement, agriculture and transport have been undertaken by the Government under the Uthuru Wsanthaya" program in the Jaffna district are in progress.

Construction of access to Kasurina beach

The road sector has given priority for the development in the Jaffna district under the Uthuru Vasanthaya. Accordingly, 11 roads including Meesalai-Varany road, approach road to Pungudutivu hospital, Sangarathai tank road, Mirusuvil-Usan-Ketpali road, Chulipuram-Paralai road, Palavoddai-Oori road, Kachchi-Ketpeli-Elephant Pass road, Erlalai-Kadduwan road, Kondavali-Irupalai road, Allaipiddy road and Allaippiddy-Mankumpan road had rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 43 million.

Fifty buses under minor repairs and 66 buses with major repairs in the depots of Nallur, Point Pedro and Karainagar have rehabilitated while fuel pump test bench in Jaffna depot and installation of fuel tank at Karainagar depot has been undertaken at a cost of Rs. 36 million.

Jaffna University

Construction of three wards and reconstruction of ambulance garage in Ayurvedic Hospital in Chavakachcheri has taken place at a cost of Rs.17 million.

Twenty three school buildings in schools in Velanai, Jaffna, Nallur, Kopay, Chavakachcheri, Karaveddy, Point Pedro, Sandilipay, Tellippalai have constructed at a cost of Rs.100 million.

Meanwhile, the Jaffna University has been upgraded with modern facilities viz. mini gymnasium, auditorium, purchasing ambulance and relocating of health center at a cost of Rs. 43million.

Two electrical water pumps and diesel water pumps have been provided to resettled people in Delft at a cost of Rs.1 million.

Under agricultural development, palmyra seeds have been distributed for the cultivation in 15 DS/AGA divisions in Jaffna. The program has commenced at a cost of Rs.1 million which will benefit 50,000 people living in Jaffna.

In addition, Ariyalai barrage in Chavakachchri, Kappoothu separation bund in Kopay, Thondamanaru barrage gate in Karaveddy and Ariyalai barrage gates in Chavakachcheri have been constructed at a cost of Rs.137 million. Meanwhile, 68 rural roads under the Local Government Department and 9 rural roads under the Municipal Council in Chavakachcheri, Point Pedro, Karaveddy, Delft, Velanai, Kayts, Karainagar, Nallur, Tellippalai, Uduvil, Kopay, Chankanai and Sandilipay have been reconstructed at a cost of Rs.109 million.

In addition, 399 projects of supplying seeds and plants, sprinklers, drip irrigation systems, seeds paddy and water pumps, providing soft loan facilities, constructing fertilizer store, purchasing two wheel tractors, renovation of small ponds, supplying of cows, goats, chicken, fishing equipment and seed coconut have been implemented in the Jaffna district at a cost of Rs.403 million. This has benefited for 33,644 families.

In addition, Under the major projects, improvements of Central functions of the Jaffna Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs.2500 million, Jaffna town development project, KKS Ports development project, Chavakachcheri Hospital development project, Water supply scheme in Karaweddy, Dorei-Appa stadium development project, Casurina beach development project at a cost of Rs.600 million and Jaffna fort development project are progressing successfully at the moment.

Meanwhile, the Government has provided facilities to newly resettled people to cultivate 2000 acres of paddy lands in the Jaffna district. These selected paddy lands in Thananthilappu,.

Marawankkulav - Suth of Chavakachcheri were left abandoned due to LTTE terrorist intimidation for over 10 years.

The re-cultivation project will directly benefit 624 farmer families and will provide much indirect employment opportunities to the people of the region.

Since the A9 road was opened by the Government,the goods transportation from Jaffna to the South and South to Jaffna have been strengthened. A number of convoys and trucks loaded with agricultural and fishing products including red onions, banana, sea foods and tobacco have been dispatched to Colombo from Jaffna.

Minister Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Governor Major G. A. Chandrasiri

The business community such as condominium developers, entrepreneurs are looking to build Star class hotels as the entire peninsula is rich in cultural values , salubrious climate, shallow lagoons and alluring beaches.

A number of tourism promotions have been taken place targeting the local and foreign visitors in the peninsula.

Resettlement

The Presidential Special Task Force on Rehabilitation and Resettlement has taken measures under the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" program to resettle 74,330 members of 24, 886 families in 15 District Secretariats in Jaffna district.

Since the innocent people fled from the terrorists, the Government is taking care of them spending a considerable sum each day until they are resettled. It is recored that nearly 69,639 people in the Jaffna district have been displaced due to the war.

The resettlement process is being successfully implemented in Jaffna district while the resettlements in several areas have already been completed by as much as 85 percent.

The Government has commissioned 25 deminig machines to clear the mines in the area while Engineering Regiment of Sri Lanka Army has deployed 800 personnel to clear the mines.

After the de-minig process was completed in the high security zone in Palali, 590 families have resettled in their native places recently.

The Government provides Rs.5,000 in cash for each resettled family to fulfil their basic requirements. In addition, Rs.45,000 is credited into the bank account of the chief occupant through the Grama Niladari. The Government also provides upto Rs.325,000 for reconstructions and rebuilding of completely destroyed buildings.

Under material assistance, each housing unit is given 12-18 tin roofing sheets as necessary. In addition, cadjan to fence the houses and 10 cement bags for reconstruction and rebuilding houses are provided. Squatting pan for latrines and consumer items and provisions including clothes, mats and lanterns are provided to resettlers for one week. Kichenware kit and dry rations for six months from co-operatives are also to be provided.

The Government facilitates for resettled families dependent on agriculture and fishing. Seed paddy at the rate of 2 bushels per acre up to four acres are issued free while subsidized fertilizer to the value of Rs.350 is provided. Meanwhile, Rs.4000 given for preparation of land and the Government is assisting in the ploughing.

Free barbed wire to protect cultivation and Rs.500 worth of seed packets and home gardening kits provide to each household free. Free seed for crops like cowpea, kurakkan, green grams, coconut seedllings, jack seeding, banana suckers and other fruit plants issue free for home gardening.

Meanwhile, actions have been taken to hand over the cattle rounded up in the areas to owners while, families are given chicks and goats for animal husbandry.

Among the assistance to families dependent on fishing, 180 fiber glass boats and nets are provided. Oyster farming and collection of sea leeches have also been provided.

Provincial Councils have been given tractors to assist in the work. Meanwhile, selected families have been given loan facilities up to Rs.75,000 to open up tea boutiques, textiles shop, books and stationery shops, vegetable and fish stalls, winkle and repair shops and hardware shops in resettled villages.

The Northern Provincial Ministry and the Samurdhi Authority provide water pumps and 50 percent of their value to be borne by the Government.

The wells of the people in the resettled areas have been drained, cleaned and chlorinated to fulfil the drinking water requirements of the resettlers. Health and education facilities had been strengthen for the benefit of them. School uniforms, school textsbooks and education kits are issued free to school children.

Meanwhile, the Pradeshiya Sabhas have offered loan assistance as required. Three tri-shaws, electricity provided to each village while opening the sub post offices. Restrictions on public transport and goods transport have already been removed while buses for public transport and tractors for goods transport had organized.

Education

The long traditional dedication to education and the resulting high priority given to education from colonial period, Jaffna has been one of the districts with high literacy rate in Sri Lanka. Education is one of the major concern for the people of Jaffna. There are 700 preschools serving for 18,016 children with 1,243 teachers under the static as in 2008. The student population is 126,638 in 2008.

Health

Jaffna Teaching Hospital is the main public health and medical institution for the people of Northern Province and for teaching of medical students of the University of Jaffna and nursing and midwife students. There are one teaching hospital in Jaffna, 4 base hospitals in Islands North, Valikamam North, Thenamarachchi and Vadamarachchi North, 22 divisional hospitals and 16 primary hospitals in the district. One Ayurvedic Teaching Hospital in Kaithady, two ayurvedic hospitals are also in the district.

Special Thanks

Media Coordinator of Security Forces Headquarters in Palali, Major Prajath Wijesinghe and Media coordinator of Northern Province Governors office, Harindranath Chandrasiri.