The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, requested the relevant parties to exert pressure and take appropriate steps to fill the vacant technical staff positions in the province and to create new technical posts in line with current needs.
A special discussion of the Ministry of Finance, Planning, Law and Order, Lands, Power, Housing and Construction, Tourism, Local Government, Provincial Administration, Rural Development, Road Development, Motor Traffic and Transport of the Northern Province was held this evening – on Monday 09 March 2026, at the Governor’s Secretariat. Hon. Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran also participated in the meeting.
At the beginning of the discussion, the Governor requested the Secretary of the Ministry and the Heads of Departments to present detailed views on the challenges faced by the Provincial Ministry of Local Government and its affiliated departments, as well as their current needs.
During the discussion, officials pointed out that the existing shortage of technical staff in the province has become a major challenge. It was strongly emphasized that compared to previous years, the Northern Province is now receiving several times more financial allocations. Therefore, the availability of sufficient technical personnel is essential to properly manage these funds and to efficiently carry out and complete development projects.
It was also highlighted that policy-level decisions need to be taken regarding several important matters related to the Department of Local Government. Furthermore, officials explained that the land-related needs of the Northern Province are significantly different from those of other provinces, and requested arrangements to be made to provide the necessary resources to address those requirements.
After listening to the views presented by the Ministry Secretary and Department Heads, Hon. Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran responded that he would raise these matters with the relevant authorities during parliamentary sectoral ministerial consultative committee meetings and take steps to obtain appropriate solutions.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Governor of Northern Province, the Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Local Government, Directors of the Road Development Department, Rural Development Department and Tourism Bureau, Commissioners of the Land Commissioner’s Department and the Local Government Department, along with several other senior officials.
