Uthuru Wasathaya pays dividends:

Jaffna reaps the benefits

By Naalir Jamaldeen

The people in the North now live in peace and harmony. Industries destroyed by the LTTE are being developed by the Government. The Government has taken steps to reopen the Kankesanthurai Cement factory. The Achchuveli Industrial Park is also expected to bring prosperity to the region while providing a large number of direct and indirect employment to people in the region.

The day-to-day activities of people show their independence. We spoke to a cross section of people in Jaffna and their collective view was that President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be elected for a third time. "Only then the existing peace will continue and sustainable development can be achieved" was their contention. the President will definitely be elected for the third time and the people in the North are ready to work towards it..

A cross section of people in Jaffna and they said that only under the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa the privileges of people can be protected. The future of the Northern people depends on the victory of President Rajapaksa.

Manoharan Divakar said that the era of President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be carved in letters of gold.

The North has achieved tremendous development during the tenure of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The elimination of the LTTE is unforgettable. Transport facilities has been improved while carpeting a large stretch of road in the region has been completed. The region has achieved development within this period less than five years. We will extend our fullest cooperation to ensure the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Divakar said that the assistance given by the Government should not be forgotten. We also hope that after President Mahinda Rajapaksa is elected for the third time the goal of becoming the "Wonder of Asia" can be achieved. The ongoing development work can be expedited and completed.

Infrastructure development

R. Ranjani	A vendor in the Jaffna market

"Under the "Uthuru Wasanthaya" Northern development drive various livelihood and infrastructure development projects have been implemented in the North. Various industries which were destroyed by the LTTE have been developed. I think President Mahinda Rajapaksa has done his job well", Divakar said.

Mowlavi Muhammad Mahir who lives in Moor Street said that he was contented with the development achieved by the Government in the North and the measures taken to improve the living and economic standards of conflict affected people. Newly implemented development projects were progressing smoothly. Restarting the train service after 30 years has exceeded all the developments implemented in the North by the Government.

"Development works were successful. We need a leader who can serve the country. Our desire is, the region should achieve sustainable development. Because President Mahinda Rajapaksa did the development works in the North as he promised. So his victory has already been ascertained", he said

Ashraff Mohammad who is from Kandy running a tea shop said that people in the region live in peace and harmony during and it should continue. He was contended with the development being taken place in the Jaffna district.

Manoharan Divakar	Velayutham Kuganandan	A foreign couple

The people even from other parts of the country also received opportunities to do business in Jaffna. Such things can happen only under the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

United

Velayutham Kuganadan who is the Manager of Jaffna Subash Hotel said that the people in the North have been freed from terrorism. Now the South and North has been linked, the country has been united eliminating terrorism. When the LTTE was operating there was doubt whether the person who left home would return. Now this situation has changed.

The people from North can travel freely to all parts of the country without fear. The people from other parts can also visit Jaffna. Such things can take place only under the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The previous Governments which governed the country failed to do so. All should join hands for the victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He said that as the roads have been developed travel time has reduced by several hours. People can reach their wanted destination within hours.

"The farmers, business community and the General public immensely benefit under Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. We are confident that our business can be developed without any difficulties. We are confident that our economy can be improved under the Government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Fisheries sector has returned to normal as was before the emergence of terrorism. Fish can be bought at low price. Fish from Jaffna is sent to other parts of the country.

All kinds of fruits and vegetables are available. Compared to Colombo price coconut can be purchased at reasonable price", Kuganandan said Agriculture sector has also been developed. Drinking water is the main problem faced by the people in jaffna.

I think under the new Government President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take necessary steps to provide drinking water to people in the Northern peninsula. There is no doubt that the President will record a landslide victory in the coming election, he said.

"We believe that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the only capable leader who can govern the country without any race, cast and religious differences. The people in the North should make use of the opportunity to pay their gratitude to the President", Kuganadan said.

Jaffna has developed a hundred fold in a short period. The district has achieved a predictable development within the period from 2005 to 2014. The development works which was brought to a halt due to terrorism activities have been re-launched by the Government. The people had to wait three decades to see development, he said.

Sangaran Hariharan the owner of Hotel Subash in Jaffna said that the arrival of tourists to Jaffna have increased by several fold after the development A9 road and the deployment of train service which had been destroyed by the LTTE. The Government re-laid the Jaffna railway line which was destroyed by the LTTE within a short period.

Victory

Business of hotels in Jaffna has increased by several folds due the increase of foreign tourist arrival and local tourists. The future victory of the Northern Tamil people depends on the victory of the President, he said.

We also spoke to some vendors in the Jaffna market, K. Yaseeharan said that When the North was under the clutches of LTTE the people lived in panic that at what time the youth would be abducted by the LTTE. A large number of people displaced. After the elimination of LTTE they returned back to their homes and doing their businesses as usual.

"Day-to-day business activities in the Jaffna town have come to normal. Now we are living peacefully without panic", Yaseeharan said.

V. Uthayan said that the Government has created a peaceful environment in the North eliminating the LTTE. A land route has been opened to Jaffna and as a result fruits, vegetables and other products can be sent to Colombo,

Dambulla, Kandy and other parts of the country and as a result the economy of people also improved. Now the people are able to travel to any parts in the country. The people in the North have an obligation towards the President.

"We were looking for peace. The present Government did it. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has created a peaceful atmosphere in the country. We hope his service towards the Tamil people will continue even after his third victory", he said.

"We should work hard to improve economic and living standards. The Government has helped the people to start self- employment attempts and has also extended assistance". We also hope that some assistance from the Government will be afforded to us to improve our business. The same leader should come to power again and then only development goals of this country can be achieved while maintaining peace as it is", a vendor in the Jaffna market said.

A foreign couple we spoke to said that a peaceful atmosphere prevailed in the North.

"Jaffna can be developed into a beautiful tourist destination. We like Jaffna. We hope to visit this beautiful place once again".

A Vinojan said that the Jaffna market was in a dilapidated condition. The Government should take steps to develop the market. Parking facilities were also not available in the market premises.

R. Ranjani said the peace which was earned by sacrificing a large number of lives, should be protected. President Mahinda Rajapaksa should return to power. These days business has reduced due to bad weather.