Jaffna celebrates bountiful Deepavali

by Ananth PALAKIDNAR

For the first time in 30 years the people of Jaffna celebrated Deepavali festival with goods bought at the same price as they are in other parts of the country.

Informed sources said that for the past 30 years, all goods including clothes, food items, and fuel were sold in the area at exorbitant rates as they had to be shipped from the South.

Following the re-opening of the A-9 highway early this year and the swift measures taken under the Vadakkin Vasantham (Jaffna Spring) program, essential goods are now flowing into the Peninsula daily. Meanwhile, products from Jaffna are also transported to the South without any hindrance.

Shoppers in Jaffna were busy even until midnight on the day prior to Deepavali.Muslim traders, who had been active in Jaffna before they were evicted by the LTTE in the early nineties, were also seen to have returned to Jaffna in a big way.

Pavement hawkers were seen with their businesses spread over nearly a one kilometre stretch, from Jaffna town to the Jaffna Public Library building.

The newly formed Jaffna Municipal Council has made arrangements for the public to engage in shopping.

Police and the Security Forces strengthened security to ensure a trouble-free festive season.