The skills already found among women and youth should not be limited to skills that are merely displayed, but should grow into income generating occupations, sustainable livelihoods, and entrepreneurial ventures that create employment opportunities for others in the future. The true success of training lies not in obtaining a certificate, but in the change brought about in an individual’s life and in the economic situation of the family through that training, stated Hon. Governor of the Northern Province N. Vethanayahan.
Organized by the Provincial Department of Rural Development of the Northern Province, the Provincial Exhibition – 2026 commenced today – on Wednesday, 02 September 2026, at Sri Parvathi Vidyalayam, Ariyalai, Jaffna. The exhibition will continue tomorrow (03 September 2026) as well.
Visiting the exhibition, the Governor noted that, more than the products displayed here, the effort behind them, the dreams of the families, and particularly the efforts of women to move forward in life with self-confidence are what appear important to him. He stated that rural development is not merely about constructing a road, constructing a building, or allocating funds for a project, but that true rural development is about transforming the human resources of a village into its strength.
Noting that skills such as bridal dressing, cake making, sewing, handicrafts and others may have been ordinary skills learned within the home a few years ago, the Governor said that in today’s context, these can be transformed into income-generating occupations from home itself. He also pointed out that opportunities for women to earn an income while taking care of family responsibilities and children have increased.
The Governor noted that it is commendable that the Department of Rural Development is creating vocational training, self-employment opportunities and marketing facilities through Women’s Development Centres and Women’s Rural Development Societies, and said that these initiatives should move one step further. He stressed that work should not end with saying that training has been provided, but that a comprehensive approach should be developed to connect trainees, after training, with markets, customers, quality, packaging and sales opportunities.
The Governor stated that his expectation is that the skills showcased through this exhibition should not end with today’s event, but that today’s skill should become tomorrow’s occupation, today’s small income should become tomorrow’s sustainable income, and one person’s self-employment should become employment for many tomorrow.
The event was held under the chairmanship of Mrs. Kajani Partheepan, Provincial Director of the Department of Rural Development of the Northern Province with Hon. Governor of the Northern Province N. Vethanayahan and Hon. Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran as Chief Guests, Mrs. Thanuja Murugesan, Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, as Special Guest, and A. Sothinathan, Secretary of the Provincial Ministry of Local Government of the Northern Province, as Guest of Honour. Dinesha Kumari Rajapaksa, Provincial Director of the Department of Rural Development of the Western Province, participated as a resource person.
Handicrafts and self-employment-related products reflecting the skills of women and youth, among others, are being displayed at the exhibition.
