PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed all Government officials involved in the Uthuru Wasanthaya (Vadakku Vasantham) Development Programme to take immediate steps to bring down the cost of living in Jaffna, the Governor of the Northern Province, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri said at a special meeting held in Colombo Monday (27).
Governor Chandrasiri emphasized that the Chief of the Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province and Senior Advisor to the President; Basil Rajapaksa (MP) has called for the utmost dedication of every official and the security forces in bringing this endeavor to success.
Apart from several issues that required immediate attention, the possibility of utilizing the recently opened A9 highway for cargo and passenger transportation discussed extensively since this could bring down the shipping charges between Colombo and Jaffna and thereby effect a drop in prices.
Emphasizing the necessity of expediting the resettlement process of Internally Displaced Persons, the Governor said that steps should be taken to dispatch material required for infrastructure development as a matter of priority.
The Government Agent of Jaffna, K. Ganesh participating in the discussion, noted that the Fisheries Corporation has deployed 10 lorries with deep freezing storage facilities and two additional private lorries to transport the catch of the Jaffna fishermen. He also said that extra measures will be taken to expand the fleet to 20 with another eight vehicles from the CWE.
The Government Agent also noted that 40 lorries containing vegetables, fruits, dried fish, tobacco, fish, red onions and other products from Jaffna will reach Colombo in every two days time.
The Governor said that so far 600 lorry owners have requested permission for Colombo-Jaffna transportation access and said that relevant officials have been instructed to send the documents for security clearance of the 180 lorries from the Jaffna through the Government Agent to Colombo. The CWE is also engaged in this process.
The lorry owners will not be permitted to charge high rates as the transportation cost he said adding "failing to comply with the Government stipulated rates for goods transportation will result in cancellation of the route permit issued".
A decision was reached to increase the bus fleet plying from Colombo to Jaffna and to grant permission for Jaffna people to make use of a special bus service to Vavuniya from where they could take the Yaldevi train to Colombo.
Officers of the Department of Essential Services said that no restrictions have been imposed on transporting goods to Jaffna and at present the approval has been granted to transport cement, pen torch batteries and even liquor.
The meeting was attended by the Government Agents of Jaffna, Vavuniya and Kilinochchi, Advisor to the President Chandra Fernando, Commissioner General of Essential Services S.B. Divaratne and staff officers of the armed forces.
(Courtesy : Government Information Department)
