Jaffna round ~ up

NHDB to construct fifty houses

The National Housing Development Board will build 50 houses at Paneecham Kulam A.G. As division in Oddusudan. The foundation stone for the housing scheme will be laid by Minister Wimal Weerawansa on August 31. The beneficiaries of the housing scheme will receive a grant of Rs 100,000 and Rs 200,000 as a loan. The land for the housing scheme has already been allocated in A9 road. Four tube wells, a playground and a Community Centre will be provided for the dwellers.

Defence Secy in Jaffna

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa visited Jaffna on August 26 and assessed the security situation there. He inspected the development programmes in progress. He also visited Tellipallai Mahajana College where a three storied building is being built by the Defence Ministry. He went to Keerimalai and met the fisher families and inquired from them their living conditions.

Then he visited Kankesanthurai where the reclamation of the harbour is being done with Indian aid. He was shown the farm cultivated by the army at Palaly in a 70 acre plot. At Palaly Army Headquarters he was received by the Jaffna Commander Maj General Hathurusinghe and had discussions with him. From Palaly he flew to Jaffna Duraiappa Stadium by helicopter. There with army escort, he visited Jaffna Fort and Pannai bridge.

Media training workshop

Arrangements are being made to hold a “Asi Disi Vinisa” (Audio Video Review) Media Training workshop in Tamil medium organised by the Mass Media and Information Ministry on September 4 at the Tilko Jaffna City Hotel in Jaffna for the provincial journalists in Jaffna district. The workshop will commence at 9 am under the patronage of the Mass Media and Information Minister Dr Keheliya Rambukwella.

Skulls unearthed

Eight human skulls were unearthed in Delft when a trench for the foundation was dug behind the office of the Delft AGA on August 26. On seeing the skulls the labourers who dug the trench stopped digging and informed the police. The police brought this to the notice of Kayts magistrate who visited Delft with the Judicial Medical Officer Dr Sivaruban. The digging operation began in their presence. They found eight human skulls and human bones. There were no other traces in the pit. The medical officer opined that the bones would have been buried for more than ten years.

Suspects released on bail

Of the hundred suspects arrested by the Jaffna Police in connection with a clash between the police and the people of Navanthurai at Navanthurai and remanded by the Jaffna Magistrate A Premkumar. 91 of them have been allowed bail in Rs 5,000 with one surety when they were produced in court on August 26. The balance nine suspects were further remanded. Those allowed on bail were asked to report at the Jaffna police station every Friday between 9 am and 4 pm and sign their names. He put off the case to September 6.

Unidentified body washed ashore

An unidentified body of a male was washed ashore in Analaithivu. The head of the body was in a decomposed state. A T-shirt and an underwear were found on the body. The Kayts police have recovered the body and sent it to the Jaffna hospital for a post-mortem examination and identification. The police believe that the body could be that of an Indian fisherman.

Annual flag hoisting ceremony

The annual flag hoisting ceremony of Thondamanaru Selvasannathy temple will take place today at 9.30 am. The Sapparam festival will be held on September 10 followed by car and Thirtham festivals on September 11 and 12. Dana will be given in all the madamas of the temple during the festivals. Buses will ply direct to the temple during the festivals.

Youth stabbed to death

A youth died when another youth stabbed him following an argument.

An argument between two youths at Naranthanai, Kayts culminated in a fatal stabbing incident. A youth had stabbed the other with a kris knife.

The victim was rushed to the Kayts hospital but he had died on the way. The suspect has fled from the village. The deceased is one Paul Robinson Roni (22) of Naranthanai.

Thousands participate in Nallur Kandasamy kovil festival

Amidst chanting of Aro Hara by thousands of Muruga devotees at Nallur Kandasamy kovil, the chariot was drawn at 7 am on August 27. When the chariot arrived at the recently constructed Southern Gopuram, a special pooja was held and a helicopter encircled thrice over the chariot and showered petals of flowers from the sky. This heart rending spectacle provoked shouts of Aro Hara from the devotees.