‘People’s Land Should Rightfully Belong to Them’
• The issue of land disputes in the North is being reviewed, and steps are being taken to expedite the return of land to the people
• Jaffna Presidential Palace to Be Fully Released for a More Significant Development Project that benefits the people of the region
• More Opportunities for Tamil-speaking youth in Police Department Vacancies
• Focus on Establishing Industrial Zones in Paranthan, Mankulam, and Kankesanthurai
• Political Authority and State mechanisms must collaborate to Improve People’s Living Standards
— President at the Jaffna DCC Meeting
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that land belonging to the people should rightfully remain with them. He further emphasized that the issue of land disputes in the Northern Province is under review and that steps are being taken to expedite returning land to its rightful owners.
The President highlighted that while the government has the authority to acquire land anywhere in the country for development projects or security purposes, it is imperative that alternative land is provided to those affected.
President Disanayake made these remarks during the Jaffna District Coordination Committee (DCC) Meeting at the Jaffna District Secretariat.
He also stressed that the Jaffna President’s House will be entirely repurposed for a project of greater significance to the region’s people. He urged officials to submit suitable proposals for this initiative.
The President instructed officials to investigate and take swift action regarding reports that families displaced by the war are still residing in the Northern Province.
He also noted that a committee led by the Secretary to the Prime Minister has identified approximately 30,000 vacancies in state institutions. He assured that these vacancies would be filled under the established recruitment process, ensuring opportunities for university graduates.
Additionally, the President announced that Tamil-speaking youth will be given more significant opportunities to apply for vacancies in the Police Department and encouraged them to come forward for recruitment.
The government has also planned to implement a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the transportation system in the Northern Province. This includes launching a joint bus operation project between the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) and private bus operators. Furthermore, attention has been directed toward increasing the frequency of train services in the region.
The President stated that three new industrial zones will be established in Paranthan, Mankulam, and Kankesanthurai to improve the living standards of the people in the Northern Province.
He also invited Sri Lankans who left the country due to the war to invest in these projects.
The President emphasized that the government is prioritizing the Northern Province in its development plans, ensuring targeted initiatives for the region.
He further revealed that with an estimated 2.5 million tourists expected to visit Sri Lanka next year, the government will identify and promote new tourist attractions in the Northern Province to boost tourism.
Additionally, the President assured that new recruitments for the state sector in the Northern Province will be carried out without political interference. At the same time, further efforts will be made to strengthen public service in the region.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the government would engage in maximum diplomatic intervention to resolve the regional fisheries-related issues.
Additionally, he highlighted that the Northern Province has been identified as the region with the lowest consumption of piped drinking water in the country. In response, he emphasized the need to accelerate the ongoing water supply projects in the area. Furthermore, he announced that funds have been allocated in the upcoming budget to implement new water supply projects to improve the province’s access to clean drinking water.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake acknowledged the numerous challenges faced by the people in the Northern Province and emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening the education, healthcare, transportation, and agricultural sectors, along with the overall public service in the region. He further stated that both political authority and state mechanisms must work together to uplift the people’s living standards.
The Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting was attended by several key figures, including Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources, and Chairman of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee Ramalijngam Chandrasekar, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake, Members of Parliament (NPP), Ilankumaran Karunanandan, Dr. Saravanabhavanandan Shanmuganathan, Rajivan Jayachandramurthy, Ramanathan Archuna, Member of Parliament (ITAK) Sivagnanam Sridharan, Member of Parliament (AITC) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, Governor of the Northern Province Nagalingam Vedanayagam, Chief Secretary of the Northern Province L. Ilangovan, Jaffna District Secretary M. Pradeepan, Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya and Senior military officials overseeing the Northern region, along with other government officials.