A SPECIAL ceremony was conducted on Wednesday (6) in Palaly, Jaffna in connection with the inauguration of the new TV relay station for transmission of ITN, Rupavahini, Channel Eye, Wasanthan TV and Prime TV channels in the peninsula.
The construction was carried out under the patronage of the Ministry of Mass Media and Information under the government’s Uthuru Wasanthaya programme, headed by senior advisor to HE the President Mr. Basil Rajapaksa (MP).
Mr Rajapaksa was received at Palaly Air field by Mr Douglas Devananda, Hon Minister for Social Services and Social Welfare, Major General (retd) GA Chandrasiri, the Governor of Northern Province, Major General L.B.R Mark, Commander Security Forces, Jaffna and several senior military officers.
Dr Ariyarthne Ethugala, Chairman Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Mr. Anura Siriwardane, Chairman ITN and several officials from the two TV institutions were also present.
Mr Basil Rajapaksa later on declared open the TV relay station, established inside the Palaly military complex after religious observances of all faiths, conducted by Ven. Meegahajandura Sirivimala Thero of Naga Vihara, Maulavi Naushad of Navatturai Mosque, Father Damien of Point Pedro Church and the Kurukkal of Naguleshwaram Temple, Keeramalai.
After the opening ceremony, the guests also visited Naguleshwaran Hindu Temple in Keeramalai and participated in a special pooja. They also visited the Keeramalai pond and spoke to pilgrims who were in the temple at that time.
Later Mr. Basil Rajapaksa attended a special ceremony for resettlement of 1862 displaced people of 509 families who had been rescued by the Army during the peak of humanitarian operations. They were resettled in the area South of Palaly High Security Zone (HSZ), about 300 m away from the HSZ perimeter. The ceremony was conducted at Union Vidyalaya, Telippalai where Mr. Rajapaksa distributed 1000 bicycles among resettled IDPs and school children. Each resettled family received Rs. 1,00,000/= from the government as a grant.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Basil Rajapaksa said that the resettlement in HSZ areas has commenced from that day and would be conducted step by step in the near future. The results of the peace achieved by the Security Forces and other government officials with a great sacrifice would be available to the civilians in Jaffna under Uthuru Wasanthaya programme. He also declared that A 9 road would be open for 24 hours from that day (6) onwards. On the same day a new bus service was inaugurated between Jaffna and Colombo by Lake House expanding transport facilities for the people in Jaffna.
Mr. Basil Rajapaksa met senior citizens in Jaffna at Weerasingham Hall and also visited fisheries folk in Welanai and farmer community in Urumpirai before leaving Jaffna.
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