Jaffna Civil Affairs office a boon to visitors

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The Civil Affairs and Public Relations Office set up by the Security Forces in Jaffna to cater to the needs of the public handled thousand of issues of various categories since its inception on March 9, according to Major Lal Nanayakkara the Officer-in-Charge of the office.

Maj.Nanayakkara told the Sunday Observer that the Civil Affairs office also launched its website and around two-hundred-thousand people have accessed it to obtain details of various aspects in the peninsula.

"The Civil Affairs office also deals extensively with the civilians who arrive from the South to Jaffna. It has been estimated that over 4.5 million visitors from the south had visited Jaffna since January this year.Therefore the Civil Affairs office plays a key role in providing guidelines for local tourists with regard to accommodations, food and the lifestyle of northerners. The office helps thousands of people daily after they enter the Peninsula,"Maj.Nanayakkara said.He also said that the Jaffna Civil Affairs office has launched a training programme for cricket umpires in Jaffna to revive the sport.The program which began on April 21 and continued till April 23 at St.Johns College, Jaffna.

Head of the Sri Lanka Umpires, Association Roney Gunaratne, ex-International umpires K.T.Francis and J.G.Pushparaja also conducted a coaching camp for Jaffna umpires. An examination was also held at the end of the program to select umpires for matches at national level,"Nanayakkara said.