Harvest stagnating

The paddy harvested during Yala season at Kilinochchi is stagnating in houses without being sold.

The reason is alleged to be the stoppage of paddy purchase by the Government.

The private traders are exploiting the situation and offering very low price for paddy. The paddy that was bought by the Paddy Marketing Board and cooperative societies at Rs 2,030 a bag is purchased by the middlemen and traders at Rs 1,650 per bag.

The cultivators are facing a severe loss by selling their paddy at a low price. They are also faced with the problem of storing their paddy. As the rainy season has dawned they are forced to part with their produce at prices dictated by the traders and middlemen.

EPF office in Jaffna

From the funds of the Employees' Provident Fund we hope to carryout development projects in Jaffna. The contributions of 8.8 million employees are included in the fund, said Employees Provident Fund President S. K. Gunawardane after declaring open the Employees Provident Fund office at Martin Road, Jaffna.

Gunawardane further said he was glad to note that this office has been opened during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The government servants were greatly inconvenienced before the opening of the office. Now they could transact their business direct.

Our eight fold program would begin to function in this region.

We have been able to collect Rs 117 million through the 8.8 million membership.

Ninety five per cent of this money has been deposited in the treasury.

He said that President Rajapaksa is not a communalist. He is treating the people in the North and South alike.

We must endeavour to revive the racial amity that prevailed in 1959. During this time it was Tamil teachers who taught Mathematics. It is a regrettable fact that the bonds of friendship and amity waned.

With the dawn of peace the, Minister Douglas Devananada would renew the fallen link, he said.

Diagnosed HIV+

Clinical tests on a girl (20) at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital revealed that she was HIV positive.

As the girl is young this test has put them in a quandary.

The girl is said to be shy and non responsive to inquiries. It is surmised that this girl could have contacted HIV some years ago and was unaware of it.

Uva PC constructs building

To foster goodwill and cordial relationship the Uva Provincial Council has decided to construct a building at Rs five million at Kopay Navalar Maha Vidyalaya.

The foundation stone for the building will be laid on November 16.

Jaffna Commander Maj Gen Mahinda Hathurusinghe, Northern Province Governor G A Chandrasri, the executives of Uva Provincial Council, Education Ministry Secretary E Elangevan, Northern Province Education Director P Vignarajah will be present.