Masses jubilant over peaceful atmosphere

By Ananda KANNANGARA

The ending of the 30-year conflict on May 18, 2009 following the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and re-establishing democracy in the North will not be erased from the minds of people. Therefore, I appeal to the Government to declare May 18 as the Day of National Liberation.

- Dr. Prakash Siriwardane

Alavi Mowlana	Dhammika Raigama	Gayantha Karunatillaka	Vajira Abeyawardena

Former Galle district UNP Parliamentarian Vajira Abeyawardena said the present peaceful environment in the Jaffna District must be maintained. We must ensure that the 30-year long dark era will not arise again.

He said the Government should not think that the problems of people in the North can be solved only by defeating the LTTE.

"There must be a solution to improve their economy and also living conditions," he added.

He said to fulfil this objective, relevant authorities must start various industrial, agricultural and social development activities in the district.

A resident of Kaduwela, Dhammika Raigama thanked the Security Forces for bringing a lasting solution to the three decade old Northern conflict and requested all Parliamentarians to visit the Jaffna district regularly, so that they could see the gravity of the destruction caused by the LTTE.

Western Province Governor, Alavi Mowlana said President Mahinda Rajapaksa's farsighted vision helped the Security Forces to eliminate terrorism from the North and to bring a lasting solution to this 30-year old problem.

He said the Government's next objective is to renovate the entire Northern road network and construct new roads, so that there will be a close link between North and the South.

"In addition, existing schools and hospitals will also be upgraded," he said.

UNP MP Gayantha Karunatillaka said after the conflict the Government has to fulfil some other responsibilities, such as provide people in the North with employment and other infrastructure facilities.

He said thousands of people who came to Jaffna after May 18 last year, still do not have houses.

Former school principal and a resident of Kilinochchi, K. Siripawaran who is presently living in Wellawatte thanked President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Security Forces for bringing peace after three decades and said many of his family members left for their ancestral homes in Jaffna and Kilinochchi after May 18 last year.

"However, a large number of Tamils in the South are anxiously awaiting to go to Jaffna, after thirty years, but due to lack of infrastructure facilities, such as houses, hospitals, schools and water distribution schemes in the district, many of them are reluctant to go."

He urged the Government to develop infrastructure facilities there.

He also asked the Government to resume train services between Colombo and Thalaimannar and also proposed to expand the Palali Airport to international standards.

"Then, there will be three international airports in Katunayake, Hambantota and Palali,".

He said that a large extent of unattended agricultural lands are in the Northern District due to the war situation and requested the Agriculture Department officials from South to visit these lands regularly, so that they could help the farmer community to re-cultivate them.

An electrical engineer by profession, Kumar Nanayakkara of Dangedara, Galle praised President Rajapaksa's invaluable courage to defeat the LTTE.

A resident of Kandy, Dr. Prakash Siriwardana, while calling upon the Government to declare May 18 as a Day of National Liberation, invited all communities in the country to celebrate May 18, the day of Prabhakaran's demise on a grand scale by lighting crackers and consuming milk rice.
 

....................................
<< BACK TO Main Page