Speedy return to normalcy:

Unprecedented level of development in Jaffna

By Shirajiv SIRIMANE in Jaffna

Calm and serene, the North today

Fish market

The North may be the only province in the world to show such quick recovery and return to normalcy after 30 years of terrorism.

This was stated by President of the UK-Sri Lanka Business Council, Jayampathy Perera who toured Jaffna over land to analyse the ground situation.

He said the development that is taking place in the area is unprecedented and that all aspects are being looked after which is praiseworthy for a developing country such as Sri Lanka which has many other priorities including providing benefits such as Samurdhi, free education and health facilities and the fertiliser subsidy as well as developing other segments.

He said Jaffna is getting four carpeted roads (under progress) which would help woo more investors. The Chamber is successfully promoting investment opportunities for the Tamil diaspora in the UK which is keen to invest in Jaffna.

"Definitely, with the Achchuveli investment promotion zone revived, Jaffna would be an investment paradise for both local and foreign investors," he said.

He, however, said that the lack of a rail link is a gray area that has to be addressed soon.

Minister Douglas Devananda opens the exhibition

Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda at the Indonesian stall

He said no other region which had suffered for 30 years could have shown the remarkable turnaround displayed by Jaffna.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, while vesting with the people the 288-metre-long two-way Sangupiddy Bridge in Jaffna which links the shortest land-based route between the South and the Jaffna peninsula, had emphasised that the Government was fully focused in achieving equity in development. President Rajapaksa had said that the Government has not confined development activities to mere election promises.

The Sangupiddy Bridge with an investment of Rs. 1,037 million, situated on the A-32 highway, connects Karaitivu with Pooneryn and reduces travel time from Colombo to Jaffna by about three hours.One of the biggest advantages in developing Jaffna is that it is perfectly planned as it is starting from scratch.

The Government is spending over Rs. 2,000 million for the development of the North.

Electricity for all

Government Agent, Jaffna Ms. Emelda Sukumar said that by the end of the year the Province would have total coverage of electricity and all main cities would have pipe-borne water. This is through the implementation of the Jaffna-Kilinochchi water supply and sanitation project at a cost of Rs. 17,880 million (US$ 164.4 million) for which the Asian Development Bank provides US $ 90 million. The target is to provide safe drinking water to 85 percent of the population by 2015 and to complete the remaining 15 percent before 2025. She said the plan is to use the ground water in the area for industrial purposes.

Road development has paved the way for the emergence of new business institutions and other industries in the Eastern Province. She said that the four-lane road that is being completed in some areas would be fully operational in two years making Colombo to Jaffna a five-hour drive. "In 2009, the Northern Province recorded a provincial nominal GDP growth rate of 14.2 percent, the second highest in Sri Lanka."

Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal earlier this month, said the North and the East were expected to grow at 13 percent during the next four years.

The gross extent of land used for paddy cultivation in the Northern Province increased by 179 percent to 67,003 hectares in the 2010/11 Maha season from 24,051 hectares in the 2009/10 Maha season. This resulted in increasing paddy production to 205,507 metric tons in 2010/11, a 112 percent increase compared to the 2009/10 Maha season.

The highest increases in the extent of paddy cultivation were reported in Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts.

It is also estimated that the total extent of land used for the cultivation of other food crops including vegetables also increased significantly in the Northern Province by 172 percent to 20,043 hectares in the 2010/11 Maha season from 7,342 hectares in the 2009/10 Maha season.

In addition, the total marine fish production increased by 58 percent to 33,600 metric tons. A substantial increase in fish production is expected in 2012.

Banking facilities have been strengthened in the Northern Province with the establishment of over 50 banks including HSBC and two Indian banks while co-operatives and supermarket chains too have been opened.

Convention hall

A new multi-storeyed Jaffna municipality and a new convention hall are being built. The Kokavil Multi Purpose Transmission Tower, which is considered a cultural bridge linking the North and South, built at a cost of Rs. 450 million, is another landmark development project. The number of telephone connections in the Northern Province, including wire lines, wireless, local loops, CDMA and payphones increased by 89 percent.

While the Indian government too is assisting the development of the district, one of the leading conference organizers, Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) has spent Rs. 2.5 million to provide a sprinkler, night lights and fence for the Alfred Duraiappa stadium.

The Indian government has come forward to assist in rebuilding Palali and Kankasanthurei harbours to international standard. In addition they have also embarked on building 50,000 houses which is the single biggest development project undertaken by the Indian government in another country. This is valued at US$ 270 million. In addition their assistance also comes in various other forms to develop the area.

Uthuru Wasanthaya and Nagenahira Navodaya are two key accelerated development programs implemented under the Mahinda Chinthana national development concept to usher prosperity to the North and the East.

Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda said that his Ministry is carrying out several programs to make people of the North active partners in the one million domestic economic unit development programs being implemented by the Government.

Teaching hospital

A project was launched to reconstruct the Jaffna Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs. 2,877 million, financed by the Government of Japan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

President of the Yalpanam Chamber of Commerce, K. Poornachandra said that the hosting of the third Jaffna Trade Fair, for which Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., is the media sponsor, too has helped Yalpanam entrepreneurs to find partners and gain access to new technology. "The Fair also helped them to find new markets," he said. "The year 2012 would be completely development-oriented, and therefore the trade fair is also focused on development."

Most of the regions industrialists will look forward to finding partners, investors for joint ventures, suppliers and buyers during the course of the three days and therefore it will be the most important fair to be held in the peninsula, as it will drive the development of the industries based in this part of the country" he said.

Kumar Mallimaratchi, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, said that the Jaffna International Trade Fair has paved the way for the peninsula to be a part of the national economy. The event has not only helped the Jaffna public, but also the industries in Jaffna to prosper. It has helped the inhabitants and traders of Jaffna to make technological exchanges and be in line with the vast advances that have taken place in technology. This will help the traders in their endeavour to create more efficient and sustainable businesses" he said.

The event will harness both the new and old generations of trade within the region and merge them with the advances that the other parts of the country have already witnessed.The fair concluded yesterday.