Devolution of powers to PCs, final solution to conflict

Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare Douglas Devananda said that power devolving system to the provincial councils has now started and under such system, problems of Tamils could be resolved.

Addressing a ceremony to mark the donation of equipment to schools in Jaffna recently, he said: “We have been striving to find a political solution to the political rights of the Tamil speaking people and for this purpose, to begin, with we demanded that power needed to be devolved to the Provincial Council system.

As it has now being implemented, it is necessary we should prepare the ground to make use of this blessed opportunity for a lasting solution”.

Minister Devananda said that the government has implemented many programs for the progress of education in Jaffna peninsula and teachers being the responsible persons in the society needed to act as a guiding force to lead the students in the correct path.

He stressed that parents too should be made aware of their right role in the society.

The Minister added that the sounds of shelling and guns at times were heard in Jaffna, signaling danger and doom and if these ominous sounds are to be silenced for ever, we all need to get together and cry for peace, only then a situation will emerge dawning the much needed peace to this island.

The Minister also said that before the outbreak of the ethnic war he too fought for the political freedom of the Tamil-speaking people but what really happened was losing both freedom and food for the people of Jaffna, and for emergence of such a situation the people who call themselves the leaders of Tamil people are responsible.

For redeeming the Tamil-speaking people from misery that they are now subjected to, the Minister demanded the implementation of the Provincial Council system which would give them an opportunity to seek a permanent solution to their problem, the Tamil-speaking people should well understand the Minister said.

At the celebration equipment were provided to 67 schools in Jaffna as the first stage of education development program in Jaffna.