Large crowds throng Vesak Zone in Jaffna

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Nearly 200,000 people in the Jaffna district and the outstations visited the special Vesak Zone organised by the Sri Lanka Army, during the past two days, officials of the Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters said. Most of the visitors were youth.

The Vesak celebrations held after a lapse of many years in the Jaffna peninsula are organised by the Sri Lanka Army under the theme Yapa Patunai Daham Amawai from May 27 - 30. A special Vesak Zone was set up in and around the Jaffna Library, the Fort and the Duraiappah Stadium. In addition all battalions of the Sri Lanka Army deployed in the Jaffna district organised lantern exhibitions and dansalas and many other vesak celebrations in their areas.

“We have a very peaceful situation in Jaffna,” Northern Province Governor Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said. He said that 35,402 people visited Jaffna from the outstations on May 27, while there were 23,657 visitors on May 28. As of yesterday 26,380 of the local tourists had left the Jaffna district.

The Governor said that there was not a single incident reported although there was heavy vehicular traffic in the town area and the holiday season was peaceful. The Sri Lanka police deployed an additional 600 police officers in the Jaffna district to control traffic in the town and at all tourist attractions.

The Government is providing all basic facilities to visitors including clean water and sanitary facilities. Due to the high tide there was a slight delay in boat transportation to the Nagadeepa Temple.