North woos tourists

by Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

The prospects for tourism in the North have risen, with the number of visitors to the region increasing.

Local and foreign tourists travel frequently to Jaffna which is home to a large number of religious and cultural sites.

The Nallur Kovil, The Naga Viharaya, The Jaffna Library. Pic: Saliya Rupasinghe

The Nallur Kovil and the Naga Viharaya are locations patronised by a large number of devotees throughout the year. The Nallur Kovil attracts a large number of people for the festival in August.

A group of journalists on a tour to the peninsula recently met visitors from the South who were delighted to meet their counterparts in the North.

"We have been yearning for this day to be with the people in the North. We will take fresh memories and encourage people to travel to the North", one of the visitors said.

Jaffna has come a long way with the free movement of people. Resumption of businesses and revival of industries are conspicuous.

Fishing, agriculture and palmyrah industries which have provided livelihood to generations have been resuscitated and people have found stable sources of income.

"There is no barrier for fishing and it has turned out to be a lucrative trade", a fisherman living in the area said.

Steps have been taken to provide soft loans to fishermen to purchase fishing gear and develop the industry.

"There is a big demand for onions and the cultivation of onions helps me to support my family", said a farmer who owns a half acre plot in Jaffna.

Farmers earn a substantial income from the produce brought to the Dambulla and Pettah markets. Jaffna grapes, mangoes, palmyrah products and a range of fruits and vegetables are supplied to the rest of the country.

Markets packed with Jaffna mangoes, grapes and palmyrah products revived memories of how people in the South relished the vintage products.

The Rio Ice Cream mall in Jaffna is patronised by many sweet lovers. People flock to the mall to satisfy their taste buds from a range of products.

"Rio is home to many visitors from the south and we are happy to serve them the best ice cream in Jaffna", said the restaurant manager.

Roads and transportation are not adequately geared to meet the demand of a new era. Road development should be expedited to boost the economy.

A proper highway network, transportation and telecommunication are vital to woo more tourists to the North which offers a host of attractions to visitors.

Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) launched a five million rupee broadband network to develop telecommunication in the North which will help link people.

Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises, Minister Douglas Devananda said that SLT has fulfilled a longfelt need of the people in the North with the new facility that will revolutionise telecommunication in the country.