It has been reported that the electricity bill allocation provided to schools in the Northern Province through the Ministry of Education is insufficient to meet their requirements. In this regard, the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, stated that favourable consideration will be given to increasing the allocation from next year, taking into account the actual electricity requirements of schools
The Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting for the third quarter of 2026 was held this morning – on Friday 04 September 2026, at the Kilinochchi District Secretariat. The meeting was co-chaired by the Hon. Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Ocean Resources and Chairman of the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee, R. Chandrasekhar and the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan. The meeting focused on a detailed review of the development activities, administrative matters and overall progress of the Kilinochchi District.
At the commencement of the meeting, Kilinochchi District Secretary S. Muralitharan delivered the welcome address, following which the Governor assumed the co-chairmanship of the meeting. The Governor requested all relevant parties to work collectively towards completing, to the greatest extent possible, the development projects planned for the current year before the onset of the rainy season. Subsequently, Co-Chairman and Hon. Minister R. Chandrasekhar commended the progress made in the implementation of development activities in the district and expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the officials for their efforts.
Following this, various development projects submitted to the District Coordination Committee for consideration and approval were discussed. Particular attention was given to the proposal to allocate 113 acres, in the first phase, to investors out of the 300 acres of land identified for tourism development in the Gowtharimunai area within the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat Division. It was further reported that arrangements had been made to conduct discussions with all relevant stakeholders at the respective Divisional Secretariat level regarding the proposed allocation and tourism development activities.
Plans to develop stadiums through the Sports Department of the Ministry of Sports, as well as proposals to renovate small-scale irrigation tanks under the “Irrigation Greatness – Our Heritage” programme, were also considered and approved.
With regard to the delimitation process, attention was drawn to the fact that the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission to merge certain Grama Niladhari Divisions had been rejected by the Divisional Coordination Committee. In this regard, the District Coordination Committee agreed to take the decision of the Regional Coordination Committee into consideration.
Approval was granted for the implementation of the annual development programmes of the Department of Rural Development and the Rural Roads Development Project – Phase III.
Furthermore, various proposals under the funds allocated by the Ministry of Transport for implementing safety measures at accident-prone locations were approved. These included a proposal to install surveillance cameras along the A-9 Road from Kilinochchi Depot Junction to Paranthan Junction as part of measures to enhance road safety and reduce the risk of accidents.
Furthermore, favourable decisions were taken regarding the handover of the Cheran Rice Mill in Kalmadu to a suitable investor for operation at its full capacity, as well as the allocation of land requested by an investor from Kilinochchi for the establishment of a food manufacturing facility.
The Chairman of the Land Reforms Commission was specially invited to participate in the meeting. Discussions were held on measures to resolve the existing issues relating to lands belonging to the Land Reforms Commission in the Palai and Poonakary Divisional Secretariat Divisions. Particular attention was given to the procedure for issuing the relevant documentation to persons who have been residing on these lands for an extended period, taking into consideration the circumstances that prevailed during the past conflict. Decisions were also taken to review cases in which allegations had been made that lands had been allocated without due authorization.
This was followed by a sector-wise review of the progress of development projects being implemented across the district. The meeting examined the progress achieved in several key areas, including road development, social empowerment programmes, projects implemented under diversified budget allocations, post-disaster reconstruction activities following the Ditwah disaster, tourism development in Vannerikulam and the issuance of land-related documents.
Discussions were also held regarding the provision of sand to meet the construction requirements of the people of the Northern Province. Particular attention was given to ensuring that the permit issuance process for the supply of sand is carried out efficiently, without unnecessary delays.
The activities of the Forest Department were also discussed in detail. Particular attention was given to the challenges faced in obtaining favourable consideration for requests relating to grazing lands, as well as the obstacles encountered in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of irrigation tanks due to matters under the purview of the Forest Department. Hon. Minister R. Chandrasekhar stated that steps had been taken to invite the relevant Minister and the Director General of the Forest Department to undertake a field visit and gain a firsthand understanding of the situation, thereby facilitating appropriate measures to address these issues.
The progress of development projects being implemented in the Kilinochchi District by various provincial departments was also reviewed. Particular attention was given to matters relating to the implementation of the ongoing education reform process in Kilinochchi and the strengthening of rural health services in the district.
Hon. Minister R. Chandrasekhar and the Hon. Governor N. Vethanayahan jointly stated that the reported proposal to transfer equipment belonging to the Northern Province Women’s Special Hospital, located within the Kilinochchi District Hospital complex, to other districts would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
While the Hon. Chairmen of the Pradeshiya Sabhas pointed out that the monthly electricity bill allocation provided to schools is insufficient, the Governor stated that favourable consideration would be given to increasing the allocation from next year, taking into account the current needs of the schools.
The District Coordination Committee meeting was attended by Hon. Member of Parliament K. Ilankumaran, Secretaries to the Provincial Ministries, the Deputy Chief Secretary – Planning, Provincial Directors, District and Divisional-level government officials, representatives of the Police and Tri-Forces, representatives of public organizations and many others.
