From Jaffna with love!

Northern products reach Colombo via A 9:

Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Getting ready for the next harvest

A businessman checking the fish harvest before loading while Jaffna GA (in tie) in a discussion with Army and Police personnel

Red onions ready for loading at the Government Food Stores in Navatkuli

On the way to Colombo

On last thursday, March 12, for the first time after two long decades Jaffna started sending its famous products to the Colombo markets.

“We sent twelve truckloads to Colombo. The load included 48,250 kilograms of red onions, 1,318 kilograms of beetroot, 5,750 kilograms of variety of a dried fish and 4,750 kilograms of prawns and crabs,” Jaffna District Secretary K. Ganesh said.

“These consignments are sent directly to the main CWE stores at Welisara to be distributed islandwide through the `Lak Sathosa’ branches,” Ganesh explained further.

Several fish traders have supplied fresh prawns, crabs along with dried prawns and fish varieties. Stocks of onions and fresh beetroot were supplied by the Jaffna farmers’ associations.

It was like a dream come true for Ramesh (36), a budding businessman hailing from Jaffna town. Fishing was his trade from his tender age. “I wanted to improve the business further. So it was with great difficulty I managed to send the fish and prawns to Colombo,” Ramesh said.

While sending stocks of prawns, crabs via sea transport through Trincomalee, Ramesh and the other fish traders had to go through a lengthy, backbreaking process. After collecting fish from the fishing harbours at Guru Nagar, Colombuthurai and Pasinoor the harvest need to be first sent to cold storage.

After loading the frozen products they need to be taken to the checking point at Hospital Road within the town area and then to the Tellipalai check point. Due to high security concerns, the forces could not take the risk of loosening the check ups.

The check ups were rather time- consuming. At Tellipalai the goods had to be loaded to lorries and okayed by the Sri Lanka Navy authorities at the check point. Finally the consignment taken to the harbour will be transported to Trincomalee by sea route.

At Trincomalee harbour the shipload after being cleared will be carried by trucks to a centre near the AGA office in Trincomalee. “Private transporters at Trincomalee charge fifty rupees to transport goods from the port to the town.

Preserving freshness of fish and prawns is very difficult since it takes many days to reach Colombo,” Ramesh explained. But now, the winds of change have unveiled the treasure trove! Enthusiastic businessmen like Ramesh will find this a golden opportunity. “Now I want to find means to export these fish products,” Ramesh said with loads of hope for a bright future.

The eagerness for a fresh start is visible in the faces of these farmers who are well known for their hard work and dedication. Jaffna red onion farmers succeeded in sending 48,250 kilograms of red onions to Colombo market at the start.

“And we are willing to produce more vegetables, onions and chilies as we did earlier” said T. Mudaliyar (60) the long standing President of a Jaffna farmers’ Association. “This is a great Achievement. We waited for this for a long time and we are really happy”! Mudaliyar said a with triumphant smile.

These courageous farmers are ever ready to dedicate to their job and work hard to produce the best for the country.

Jaffna District Secretary K. Ganesh stressed that if not for the commitment and understanding of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government and the special support of Minister Douglas Devananda as a representative of the Northern people, this change would not have taken place for the betterment of Jaffna people.

“With the support from the Sri Lanka Army deployed in the Jaffna peninsula and the Police we were able to provide all that our farmers and fishermen needed.” Ganesh added.