A Meeting After The Vidhya’s Rape & Murder In Jaffna
Thanges Paramsothy
The Velanai DS office arranged a meeting at the North Ceylon Sarvodayam, Pungudutivu where the twelve GS of Pungudutivu, the Vellani DS, the Jaffna GA, the secretory for the governor of the northern provincial council, the head of Pradeshiya Shaba, a navy officer, a police officer and some people of Pungudutivu participated. The meeting took place on 16th June 2015. It was scheduled at 2 pm, but started around 2.45 pm. I too had a chance to take part at the meeting. It was said at the beginning that the meeting was arranged in order to get people’s voice on the important problems that they face in their everyday life in Pungudutivu and to find possible solutions.
The government officers, who were on the stage, talked very less, let much time for people to talk on their problems. The Jaffna GA and the secretory of the northern Provincial council repeatedly highlighted that “the governor of the northern province is very much interested to solve the problems in Pungudutivu. It is a golden opportunity for us to work together and find solutions for our problems”. After their introductory speech, they opened the stage for the audience in order to convey the problems in Pungudutivu.
A number of individuals appearing on the stage listed countless problems such as alcoholism, a bar near school and temple, lack of transport facilities, hospital, poor education, hundreds of abandoned houses, theft, forming a vigilant group in each ward, developing jetty, reconstructing ponds for irrigation, agriculture, fishing, unemployment, the abandoned cattle, lack of banking facilities, lack of drinking water and so on. The list continued. It seemed that the government officers carefully noted the issues in front of people. Finally, the Jaffna GA listed a couple of issues for which they would contact relevant authority in order to find solutions soon. Soon after the meeting, all the officers including the twelve GS, the DS, the GA and other officers spent couple of minutes outside the hall and got into their vehicle to travel towards Jaffna. People went to their home in Pungudutivu. That is all. The meeting was over.
Photo: by Thanges Paramsothy, the meeting held at North Ceylon Sarvodayam Pungudutivu