Govt provides facilities for devotees

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda visited the Nallur Kovil and inspected the premises to ascertain the best of facilities that could be provided to the devotees attending the annual festival of the Kovil.

Thereafter, the Minister chaired the meeting, that comprised Jaffna Mayor Yogeswary Patkunrajah, Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs Department Director Shanthie Thirunavukkarasu, Municipal Councillors and Members of the Organizing Committee of the Kovil festival. Addressing the participants, the Minister stated it was after 30 years of bitter war that people were attending this festival with freedom, and therefore, it needed to be conducted successfully without causing any inconvenience to the devotees and if there are any problems that could not be solved by the Organizing Committee, they needed to be referred to him immediately.

He instructed the officials to provide all facilities necessary to the devotees including electricity and water. He also instructed to construct 40 toilets for use of devotees.

As a precautionary measure, the Minister instructed those concerned to have stand-by services of Red Cross, St. Jones Ambulance Sri Lanka and a team of Medical Officers attached to the Jaffna Hospital to meet with any eventuality that might crop up.

The Minister also directed the Mayor to set up an emergency call Section in the Municipality to be operative 24 hours a day for solving any problems or difficulties that might emerge.

The numbers allotted for this purpose are, 021-2228888 and 071-3207777. Instructions were also given by the Minister to place 04 boxes for receiving public complaints at the four roads leading to the Kovil.