Goods delivery continues with Jaffna regaining normalcy

Amidst the LTTE attempts to disrupt the normalcy in Jaffna the Government has been able to continue its humanitarian mission to safe guard the human rights of the Jaffna civilians.

LTTE unleashed a series of slaughter with artillery fire, keeping the Tamil civilians as human shields, the Government through a concerted effort, is gradually bringing back normality to the conflict-affected regions in the North-East, the President's Office said.

According to the President's Office Government in such a heinous situation, has been able to take all measures at their disposal to thwart the LTTE attempts to disrupt and jeopardise civilian life in the North-East.

LTTE has been misusing their publicity machinery to propagate a distorted picture of the true ground situation in Jaffna and discredit the image of the Government in the face of the international community. Stating that humanitarian issues have not been addressed sufficiently and adequate stocks of essential items have not been provided for.

Rebutting all such claims and the media reports therein, the Government states that ministers and other high officials, inclusive of the Deputy Education Minister Nirmala Kothelawela, Cooperatives Minister Najim M. Majeed, Re-settlement Minister Rishard Bathiudin, Trincomalee district Parliamentarian Jayantha Wijesekera, former Trincomalee district Parliamentarians M.K.D.S. Gunawardena and Sunil Shantha Ranaweera, Special Project and Operations Director General to the President Lalath Abeygunawardena, Additional Secretary of the Defence Ministry V.K.U. Wickremasinghe, DIG Mahinda Balasuriya, GA Ranjith Silva and AGA Sirimevan Dharmasena among others have visited the areas affected, including the villages of Somapura, Serunuwara, Sirimangalapura, Medagama and Alioluwa and attended to all the humanitarian needs of the victims and the displaced.

They had airlifted a fully competent medical staff inclusive of surgeons from the Karapitiya hospital to attend to the sick and wounded. camps, tents, bedding, dried foods, cooking utensils and sanitary facilities had been provided expeditiously.

"This was indeed a fully coordinated effort by all the political parties, inclusive of the SLFP, UNP, JVP and the JHU. It had been very successful albeit some minor shortcomings. To protect the civilians trapped within the uncleared areas, we have now stopped the retaliatory mortar fire of the Armed Forces.

Electricity supplies which had been destroyed by the LTTE, have now been restored to provide 18 hours of electricity per day, with the possibility of another two hour extension by tomorrow.

There are ample stocks of petrol, diesel and kerosene as a buffer stock and in another 33 sheds. The prices of many essential goods have been brought down drastically to match those in the South.

A Kilo of Rice, Sugar, Lentils, Milk Powder (Nespray), Milk Powder(Anchor) and Bread, costs only Rs.40.50, 63.00, 73.00, 172.00, 163.00 and 43.00 respectively, the President's office said.

Around 3200 Kilos of sea-leeches valued at US Dollars 45,000 from Jaffna bound for export to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia and other marine produce for export are also freighted to Colombo on board the vessel "Yala" on its turnaround from Jaffna.

Vegetable seed and fertiliser among others for the uplift of the farming community and the provision of cement and other items needed for the rapid development of the building construction industry too have been despatched.

The Government was also negotiating with more NGOs and INGOs for enhanced infrastructure facilities.

They are negotiating to further enhance the passenger transport by air and sea by adding more airlines such as Lionair, Expo Aviation and Arrow Lanka. The Colombo-Trincomalee ferry service frequency too will be increased to two per day.

Pointing out that sea transport was much economical than road via the A9 highway, they have now chartered six vessels, Mercs Ruhuna (3800 MT), Yala (2800MT), Jane Clipper (650MT), Liverpool (2100MT), Hind Em (900MT) and Iduruwa Valley (3000MT), together with a Containerised vessel Anamcara (3200MT) to transport goods from Colombo to Jaffna.

Taking into consideration the reality of the lost livelihoods of the fishing community, and following the talks held Saturday between the representatives of the Fishermen Societies in Pasaiyoor, Gurunagar, Colombuthurai and the officials of the Army in Jaffna, the Government has given the nod for limited fishing in the Jaffna lagoon, the President's office said.