PM pledges to strengthen civil administration in the north
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said the civil administration in the north should be strengthened to achieve reconciliation among the communities.
The Prime Minister Sunday met with the Parliamentarians of the major Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance and local Government officials at the Kilinochchi District Secretariat office to learn firsthand about the post-war problems people are facing in the region and to discuss ways to resolve them.
During the discussions he promised to appoint a special officer at the Prime Minister’s Office to resolve the issues of the people of the north.
As a measure to restore civil administration in the north, the new Government of President Maithripala Sirisena has already taken the first step by installing a civilian Governor in the Northern Province replacing the military governor served under the previous regime.
The PM also held a round of discussion with political leaders, Government officers and the general public in the Mullaitivu District Sunday.
Responding to questions raised by the general public, the Prime Minister said their issues would be addressed with immediate effect and solutions would be granted in a few months. Priority would be given to resettlement, education and agriculture, he said.
The Prime Minister pledged to provide new equipment to the fishing communities in Mullaitivu who faced immense difficulties during the war time.
The PM touring the Jaffna peninsula on Friday, the first day of his tour, met with the officials and public in Jaffna.
Addressing the people, who came to present their grievances, and the officials, the Prime Minister pledged to reach a political solution to grant greater autonomy to the region and reiterated his Government’s commitment for national reconciliation.
“Tamils have shown their willingness to ensure reconciliation. We must have a political settlement and move forward, protecting peace and stability,” he was quoted as saying in a statement released by his office.
During the tour in Jaffna, the Prime Minister also met with religious leaders.
Meeting with the Bishop of Jaffna Rev. Thomas Savundranayagam, the Prime Minister pledged to work on resolving the issues the Bishop raised.
The Bishop has called on the new Government to take action on re-building homes for the displaced, rebuilding destroyed places of religious worship, resolving the issues of Tamil fisherman and an answer to the calls of families of the disappeared.
He asked the Bishop to give more time and space for the new Government to resolve the people’s problems.
The Prime Minister assured that the new Government would provide long-term solutions to address the problems faced by the people in the district who have been affected by the war and would take measures to uplift their economy along with the development of infrastructure facilities.
