Northerners say only the President can sustain peace in Jaffna

by Naalir Jamaldeen

People in the North will not destroy the peace earned after sacrificing a large number of lives and properties worth billions of rupees. Those who fell victims to the LTTE terror are not ready to go back to that dark era again. The Sunday Observer talked to a cross section of the people and their collective view was that if President Mahinda Rajapaksa is elected to office in his third term the people in the peninsula are assured of a peaceful life.

Mohammed Mahir, a resident in Moor Street, Jaffna said that those who try to betray the country should not be voted to office.

Kadher Abdullah, too expressed similar sentiments.

People in the North are happy with the development drive launched by the government in less than five years.

The road network has been developed while improving transport facilities. At present CTB and private buses operate from Jaffna to other parts of the country.

R. Ranjani, a businesswoman said that she was happy with the opening of the A9 road. After nearly three decades the train service has been restored to Jaffna. The relaying of the Jaffna railway track has topped all other development projects launched in the Jaffna district.

The high-rise buildings along the A9 road to Jaffna is clear evidence of the massive development in the North.

Some vendors in the Jaffna market said that they hope President Rajapaksa would take steps to improve the facilities at the Jaffna market. People in the Jaffna town do business peacefully. We talked Palmyrah Development Board chairman Pasupathy Seevarathinam, said that peace and development would be protected only if President Rajapaksa is elected at the forthcoming election.

People hoped that the Achchuveli Industrial Park would bring prosperity to the people with direct and indirect job opportunities being created.