President Mahinda on a three-day visit to Jaffna

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to make a three-day visit to Jaffna on the invitation of Douglas Devananda, Jaffna Electoral District MP and the Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development.

According to Minister Douglas Devananda. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be in Jaffna from 14th to 16th this month, participating in number of official events and ceremonies.

According to the Minister, on the 14th evening President will participate in national Thai Pongal Ceremony to be held in the College of Learning in Kopay – a town 16 km north of the Jaffna city.

On the 15th morning Mahinda Rajapaksa would preside over the District Coordinating Committees meeting of Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts in Jaffna.

The meeting is expected to explore the progress made in the year 2012 and also expected to finalize programs for the year 2013 for the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts.

In the evening President is expected to declare open a pier constructed by the Sri Lanka Navy at Nainativu to facilitate pilgrims visiting Nagapooshany Amman Temple and the Buddhist temple located in the islet.

On 16th morning President will declare open the hospital building at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided a grant of 2,298 million Japanese Yen (approximately Rs. 2,900 million) for the Jaffna Teaching Hospital to restore tertiary level medical functions, by construction work on a central facility to house core functions such as surgeries, intensive care, central supply and sterilizing, diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests, improving facilities and equipment and also by providing training programs to maintain the equipment.

In the evening President is expected to declare open the uninterrupted electricity supply program to the Peninsula at Chunnakam.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) under the directions of the Minster of Power and Energy has established a 24MW Thermal Power plant in Chunnakam. This would stabilize the electricity supply in the Jaffna peninsula.

Three 8.6MW thermal electricity generators are being set up by Lakdanavi, a subsidiary company of CEB. The full cost of the projected is estimated at Rs. 4000 million. Lakdanavi states that 24 MW would be integrated to the main grid of the Jaffna Peninsula and is expected to provide uninterrupted power supply to the Peninsula.

- Asian Tribune -