Minister Rajapaksa tells Diaspora:

Invest in Jaffna

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa extended an open invitation to the Sri Lankan Diaspora to invest in Jaffna as the government has created a conducive atmosphere with all required infrastructure facilities for it.

He said that if the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora is serious in helping the Tamil community as they imply, it is time they come and invest in the North for the well-being of the people.

Minister Rajapaksa is on a five-day tour of the North where he inaugurated a series of multipurpose development projects in Jaffna. On Wednesday morning soon after his arrival he offered pooja at the Nallur Kandasami Kovil and later had audience with the Hindu High Priest Nallai-aadeenam Kurukkal.

Thirty-three roads within Jaffna Municipal limit are to be developed and carpeted by the Economic Development Ministry under the Uthuru Wasanthaya programme at a cost of Rs 237 million.

The minister inaugurated the carpeting work at the Kovil Road as a symbol to inaugurate the work of all these 33 projects inclusive of Jaffna Temple Road, Kasthuriya Road and the Clock Tower Road.

The minister under the livelihood development scheme also launched by his ministry inaugurated several community service projects in Jaffna. Four water supply schemes in Ariyalai, Urani, Karaveddy and Irupalai in the Valikamam sector in the peninsula was inaugurated. These projects costing Rs 200 million, once completed will provide ground water facilities to over 25,000 people.

When the pipe laying ceremony took place for Irupalai water supply scheme in Kopai a large crowd who are the beneficiaries of the project joined the minister with much enthusiasm to lay pipe lines in the area.

A new market at Nelliyadi Junction was also declared open by the minister

The minister speaking at the meeting after inaugurating series of development projects said that the 30 year war brought destruction to the entire country, but the people in the North faced severe hardships.

The President has taken the initiatives to provide everything and to restore normalcy in Jaffna. Therefore the government on its part has done everything possible to develop the entire North without any discrimination.

‘Developing the infrastructure facilities and paving the way for investment and business in the area has been fulfilled under the Uthuru Vasanthaya programme. For the first time in the history Jaffna is to be linked with National Grid to ensure 24 hour power supply. Laying of Fibre optic cable is on the way to Jaffna. This would enable Jaffna to attract large-scale investment in the IT sector,’ the minister said.

The government as the facilitator has been fulfilling its obligations by making available the essential variables needed for investment. Private sector investors should seize this opportunity to invest in Jaffna,” the minister said.

The minister referring to government welfare projects said that while infrastructure and other common facilities are developed in the North, programmes were also underway to directly help the needy people for their livelihood projects.

Several million worth agricultural and fisheries equipment such as water pumps, fishing nets, spray guns, equipment for compost fertilizer manufacturing, sewing machines and micro credit facilities were distributed under the Gami Diriya, Gama Neguma, Divi Neguma programme implemented by the Economic Development Ministry. The minister also added that development alone will not bring sustainable peace in the country. Therefore, he said that the government has embarked upon another project to assist the Jaffna people to uplift and develop their culture, artes, sports as the next step.

The minister also warned the people of the North not to fall prey to mere lip services of the opposition politicians who always say at times of elections the Tamil people should show their strength to the international community and this is the last opportunity for it. What has this so called ‘strength call’ brought for the Tamils other than destruction to their lives and properties. Confrontational politics has always caused damage to the ordinary man who lives in this land and this is common to all countries nowadays. In the same time those who want the people to go for confrontational politics survive on it.

The minister reminded the Tamil people in the North not to believe these mischief makers any more as their selfish politics since 1977 has not brought any benefit to any citizen in the country. Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Northern Province Governor G.A. Chandrasiri also spoke.