Free choice for Northern voters

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Jaffna and Vavuniya voters are extremely happy that they got the opportunity to exercise their franchise after being liberated from decades of LTTE tyranny said Mahindananda Aluthgamage Minister of Power.

People do not wish to live like puppets. Instead they are always inclined to work according to their conscience.

After the annihilation of the LTTE with its leader Velupillai Prabhakaran the Northern people can now exercise their right without fear or favour in casting their vote to the SLFP, UNP, EPRLF or TNA he pointed out.

A number of difficult problems confronting the people of Jaffna could be solved and solace provided due to the intervention of Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa during the last few months, he said.

He said that 3,020 people belonging to 650 families in IDP centres in Jaffna were released in to their native villages. Another 1,300 Jaffna youths who were housed in IDP centres in Vavuniya had been released. They are now back in their native Jaffna, he said.

After the opening of “Lak Sathosa” branch in Jaffna the prices of rice, dhal, chicken and such other commodities, that had skyrocketed have come down to the level of Colombo prices.

“Laksathosa daily turnover had exceeded Rs. 1.5 million yesterday, he said.

“That the opening of Laksathosa outlet in the peninsula is a blessing amply proved by the large number of consumers flocking to the place to purchase their necessities, he said.

“Restrictions placed on the Northern fishermen due to the national security concerns have since been removed and they are now free to engage in fishing. They dispatch their catch daily to the Colombo market. They are now able to secure a reasonable price on par with those prevailing in other parts of the country, he said.

He said that the fishing community in the Northern Province forms 40 percent of the Jaffna population.

The Minister said that the Colombo-Jaffna SLTB bus service on the A9 road commenced lastweek. Earlier the Colombo-Jaffna air trip cost as much as Rs. 23,000 or more to the commuters _ whilst the bus fare is only Rs. 425.

More than 24 Ministers have visited Jaffna during the last few weeks. When most of the Government Departments and corporations open their branches in Jaffna in the near future, there will be ample employment opportunities available for the Jaffna youth, he pointed out.

The Jaffna youth have realised that they have their future only with the Government and not with the terrorist elements. Jaffna was a strong SLFP base during the premiership of the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike. An SLFP youth organisation has also been setup and Jaffna now appears to be heading back to the old era of peace and prosperity, the Minister said.

He said that “Vasanthodaya” - a musical evening held at the Dureiappa grounds and attended by over 125,000 youths could witness the dawn of a new era after the disappearance of Prabakaran and his criminal gang.