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ON THE TRAIL OF VICTORY - Sunday Observer pays tribute to Security Forces on fourth anniversary of defeating terrorism

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.

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