Business Times

Urgent need to consult the North: BT Editorial

Letter

The government has eradicated terrorism in the north and now it wants to have a firm grip on it. The Central Bank has got the banks and the finance companies to open shops in Jaffna district to show the world that the government is now developing Jaffna.

As part of this campaign, a foundation stone was laid in a hurry by the governor to construct a hotel in Nallur. Politicians, especially the Minister for Tourism and the Minister representing Jaffna, Douglas Devananda and the Mayor of Jaffna were not invited for this function.

One cannot understand what the Central bank governor has got to do with a hotel project. Even we do not know who the investor or promoter of the hotel is. The only ‘consolation’ given by the governor is preference for Jaffna citizens in the share issue. In a free market environment I do not know how this is possible. It will be another face saving exercise to mislead the Sri Lankans. As your editorial has pointed out the opportunity is far away for the Jaffna entrepreneur to invest in tourism.

Further, how did The Finance Co come into possession of this land in Nallur? Is it an outright purchase? Or did the company foreclose this property that was mortgaged by an unfortunate Jaffna citizen? Have the authorities considered the impact on the environment by this project?

Pavement hawkers from the south are having a field day in Jaffna. They can open shops anywhere without any questions being asked by the authorities. They have done so in the vicinity of the Nallur temple. These hawkers further demolished the statue built by the Jaffna people in Nallur in memory of Thileepan who died in a fast-to-death during the IPKF days in 1987. If such a thing happened in the south we could have seen mayhem caused to poor Tamils.

Thank you for highlighting the omission by the government which still treats the Tamils as second class citizens. The signs are that the government will even ignore its own MPs elected in the north and go ahead with its agenda.

Concerned Jaffna citizen

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other Business Times Articles
Controversial Chillies Ad awards cancelled
Lankan public says present full budget
Fury over Kotelawala re-election bid at Ceylinco Insurance
Worldwide grocers alliance chief visits Cargills
Budget 2010 ready for debate in Parliament in June
Foreign Accounts for sportsmen, writers, hairdressers
International retail expert visits Sri Lanka
End of conflict: A year later
PIGS: the Achilles heel of the EU
Let’s not kill the Angels while the banks sleep -- Intelligent Investor
Central Bank begins bailout of troubled finance companies
Sri Lankan delegation to EU for GSP+ negotiations
Seafood exporters appeal for GSP+
Brandix Lanka opens 1000-acre apparel park in India
Accolades for Hiran, new PATA Chairperson
Triad to sue Chillies Committee for Rs.100 mln
Unilever sponsors Asia Pacific Dental Congress in Colombo
Malaysian businesses keen to explore SL's opportunities
SLIM’s New Year celebration today
Talawakelle Tea Estates boosts 1Q profit on tea price hikes
Auston Institute launches multifaceted higher education in Sri Lanka
Unilever focuses on expanding in Branded Tea Market
Ten finance company branches to be set up in the North
Mobitel takes mLearning to the Maldives
CNCI Achievers Awards 2010
CHC reduces losses
SL ecology easy to manage: Environment Ministry
Luxury serviced apartments now in Jaffna
Debate over IMF loan -- Letter
Urgent need to consult the North: BT Editorial -- Letter
More listed firms gearing to launch power projects
600 mini hydro power projects to be developed with private sector participation
Health policy for migrants being developed
Tourism: Occupancy rates and earnings up
Standard Chartered donates computers to army project
British High Commissioner visits colonial past
EU funds Ceylon Chamber Greening Sri Lanka Hotels
Redefining loyalty in the workplace
SAGT confronted with tax issues
Activity levels high in CSE this week
CB has key role in economic development - Basil
Grassroots to apex of success
Sri Lanka to spend US$ 9 mln for IIFA Awards, returns assured
Public anger at taxes expressed at tax seminar
Economists predict increased inflation
Lanka Salt records highest ever revenue of over Rs. 1 bln
Proper corporate governance and risk managing processes needed
Palm oil cultivation yields good results
Textbook on Commercial Law by Dr Wickrema Weerasooria
FCCISL facilitates first-ever Jaffna International 2010 Trade Fair

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 2010 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved.| Site best viewed in IE ver 6.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution