The Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, P.S.M. Charles, has insisted that an investigation should be carried out regarding the imported seed potatoes under the Agricultural Modernization Program. The Governor mentioned this during the Jaffna District Development Committee meeting. The Jaffna District Coordination Committee meeting was held today in the auditorium of the District Secretariat under the leadership of the Co-Chairmen of Jaffna District Development Committee, Minister Douglas Devananda, Hon’ble Governor P.S.M. Charles and District Government Agent A. Sivabalasundaran.
In the meeting, the dengue risk situation in Jaffna district, problems faced by fishermen, development projects and problems faced by the public in the district were discussed. Honorable Governor P.S.M. Charles posed questions to the Northern Provincial Deputy Director of Agricultural Modernization Program regarding the outbreak of bacterial infection in imported seed potatoes for the farmers of Jaffna district. The Honorable Governor of the Northern Province raised questions about many issues such as ‘how the seed tubers were brought to Kuppilan warehouse without any quality certificate, who gave permission for this, now the cost of destroying them, and alternative measures for the affected farmers’. In this case, the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province Mrs P.S.M. Charles emphasized that since there may have been frauds in the import of seed potatoes, detailed investigations should be carried out. Co-Chairmen Minister Douglas Devananda also agreed to this resolution.
Meanwhile, the members of parliament who attended the meeting said that they have not yet received the necessary clarifications regarding the proposed twenty-five thousand (25,000) housing projects in the Northern Province. The Honorable Governor mentioned that she will organize a special meeting soon to clarify the matter to the members of Parliament.
At the same time, it was clarified today regarding the Paaliyaru project to be carried out in the north. Also, the problems faced by fishermen of Jaffna district were examined. It was also discussed that the local fishermen are suffering due to the encroachments of the Indian fishermen. The Co-Chairman of the Development Committee, Minister Douglas Devananda told the officials that the penalty money paid to those involved in illegal fishing should be used for the welfare activities of the fishermen. Also, Minister Douglas Devananda clarified during the development committee meeting regarding the President’s visit to the North on the 4th.
