Winds of change wafting thru' northern landscape
The winds of change blowing across the
Northern landscape have ushered in prosperity and new found hope for the
people of Jaffna, who for three decades had endured untold suffering
under the LTTE, according to the Northern Province Governor, Maj. Gen (Retd)
G.A. Chandrasiri.
Focusing on the current development initiative, he pointed out that
the socio-economic development realised through the Mahinda Chinthana
Concept is visible everywhere. In place of shell and mortar-riddled
buildings, new condominiums are springing up.
The state has allocated Rs.10 billion for the development of
infrastructure. In addition, the Road Development Authority has
allocated Rs. 5 billion.
Under the NEHRP project implemented with Indian government financial
assistance along with NGOs, over 35,000 housing units have being
constructed. A turning point is that the Tamil diaspora has also
extended assistance . "The Jaffna people are predominently engaged in
agriculture. The private sector has reposed confidence in the
Government's development drive. A case in point is the advent of a giant
supermarket chain in the North with a five-storeyed building under
construction," he said.
"This would be a huge boost to cultivators and farmers to sell their
produce eliminating middle-men. The Jaffna University, which was under
the LTTE's jackboot in the days of terrorism has seen a new dawn and
beginning, as evidenced by the 75 medical students from the South who
are studying Medicine with their Tamil brothers and sisters in the
English medium in the Jaffna University," he said.
The new found affluence had enabled many families to send their
children abroad for studies discounting the claim by the Tamil Nadu
Jayalalitha clique, that Jaffna Tamils are subject to oppression.
During their reign of terror, the LTTE even imposed restrictions on
marriage. Every family had to hand over one child to the LTTE for the
other children to be given in marriage. The unprecedented development
taking place has vanquished the Eelam dream, bringing much benefit to
the common man. The new era ushered by the government on the directive
of President Mahinda Rajapaksa has helped the people realise their
lifelong hopes and dreams," the Northern Governor said.
Meanwhile, the Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter, the Most Ven
Udugama Sri Buddharkkhita said that the Northern and Eastern Provinces
are currently going through a rapid development process and critics here
and abroad cannot deny this fact because they had witnessed the rapid
transformation in these areas.
The prelate was delivering an anusasana when Plantation Industries
Minister and President's special envoy on Human Rights Mahinda
Samarasinghe called on him at the Asgiriya Vihara after paying homage to
the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy recently.
Ven Buddharakkhita Mahanayaka Thera said development in the North and
the East encompassed all sectors including roads, water and electricity
supply, housing and health. The prelate said the time had come for all
to shed political differences and work in unison for at least five to 10
years to overcome all dangers posed to the nation.
Minister Samarasinghe said he could be considered the best example of
the idea mooted by the Mahanayake Thera. When the country faced dangers
he cast aside his political views and joined hands with the Government
and the President to help the country to overcome the greatest tragedy
faced by it.
He said even though the resolution brought against Sri Lanka by
Western nations led by the US at the Geneva Human Rights Council was a
grave challenge, he bravely faced it on the advice and direction of the
President.
He said he thwarted attempts by foreign forces to portray a presence
of religious discord in Sri Lanka and discrimination against other
religions by majority Buddhists by highlighting the LTTE attack on the
Sacred Dalada Maligawa and the LTTE massacre of Muslims in the East. |