Jaffna round-up

S Kadirgamarthamby- Jaffna Special Corr.

Parliamentarian visits Kilinochchi

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa visited Kilinochchi Thondaman Nagar and met residents to find out their urgent problems.

The residents asked for a welfare Mandapam (hall). He promised to allocated Rs 1 million for the hall. He held friendly discussions with residents and promised to help them in their needs.

Accident kills one

A Police jeep collided with a bicycle and killed one person.

The other was seriously injured and admitted to the Kilinochchi Government Hospital.

The accident took place while the Police jeep was taking an injured person to the Kilinochchi Hospital. The jeep was driven at high speed, it was alleged. The deceased was S. Chelliah, 77, of Poongawana Junction, Paranthan.

The Kilinochchi Acting Magistrate visited the scene and held the magisterial inquiry. He ordered for a postmortem examination.

YMHA new building opens

The Vaddukoddai Young Men's Association building was opened by retired Supreme Court Judge C. V. Vignarajah on Thai Pongal Day. After a pooja at Pathirkali Amman Kovil, he was taken on procession to the YMHA new building. Former Principal and YMHA President N. Sabaratnam participated in the opening of the building.

A meeting was also held presided by Attorney-at-law E. Suhas. Vali West Pradeshiya Sabha President Nagaranjini Lynkaran, Secretary A. Sothynathan and Tishi Thondu Swamigal addressed meeting.

Development projects in Puthukudirippu

The Puthukudirippu Pradeshiya Sabha has undertaken a mega development programme at a cost of Rs 7.6 million rupees. The development schemes will be undertaken from the Rs. 6.1 million of the Pradeshiya Sabha Fund and Rs 1.5 million from Provincial Council's grant. The Puthukudirippu bus stand, toilets and beef stalls at Mankulam and Muthayankaddu, and a new market at Thirumurukandy are some of the new buildings under the development projects. Street lamps at Mullaithivu-Paranthan road at a distance of five kilometres will be installed. Bus halts and a library will also be opened at Thiru Murukandy.

Heart surgery theatre constructed

A heart surgery theatre will be constructed at Jaffna Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs 510 million. It will be a four storeyed building funded by the business community in Switzerland and Sri Lanka. It will be built at the place where the present kitchen building stands, said Jaffna Hospital Director Dr. S. Sri Bavanandarajah.

School dropouts increasing in Jaffna

School dropouts in the Jaffna peninsula have increased five fold last year according to statistics of the Jaffna District Secretariat. About 529 students had dropped out from schools. The Chankanai Pradeshiya Sabha area tops the dropouts with 514 students and Chavakachcheri with 101 students.

In contrast, the dropouts from Uduvil were four. The other areas with minimum dropouts were Karainagar 5, Nallur 6 and Delft 6.

RI for man

A suspect of a robbery and murder case was imposed 12 year Rigorous Imprisonment by Kayts Magistrate R S Mahendran. He was indicted with the murder of a person in Delft 12 years ago. He was also charged with unlawful trespass into a house, intimidating and hurting the inmates.

He was found guilty of the three charges.

He was fined Rs 3,000 on two charges and sentenced to 12 year Rigorous Imprisonment on the other charge.

Motorcyclist dies in accident

A motorcyclist died on the spot when the motorcycle he was riding, collided with a parked canter vehicle in the Vavuniya Kanagarayan Kulam area. He was identified as Thangavelu Naguleswaran, 41, a father of three of Ratnapuram Kilinochchi.

The body was sent to the Kilinochchi hospital for the post-mortem.