“It is not the people who should come in search of us; rather, it is the responsibility of public officials to reach out to the people and address their concerns,” stated the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, Mr. N. Vethanayahan. “In keeping with this principle, we are organizing this public grievance redressal meeting to serve the underserved island communities.”
A public grievance meeting organized by the Northern Provincial Council was held on Thursday, 07 August 2025, at the hall adjacent to the Analaitivu Harikaraputhra Iyanar Temple.
“The grievance redressal meeting has been organized in accordance with the Hon. Governor’s view that ‘Bringing all relevant officials together in one place allows for more efficient resolution of public issues, eliminating the need for individuals to waste time and resources visiting multiple offices separately,'” stated the Chief Secretary of the Northern Province, Mrs. Thanuja Murugesan.
In his remarks, the Honorable Governor further emphasized that the government must proactively reach out to the people to find solutions to their problems. He cited the recent statement of His Excellency the President, who affirmed that “Institutions that serve the people should understand their needs and act accordingly.” The Governor added that it is not possible to truly identify the priorities of the public while remaining confined to offices. Instead, such priorities can only be understood through direct engagement with communities—particularly through field visits and public grievance redressal meetings.
During the meeting, residents highlighted that the bus operating in Analaithivu frequently breaks down. In response, the Honorable Governor stated that he had already requested that new buses be allocated to the offshore islands as a priority during the next phase of bus distribution in the Jaffna District. Additionally, a request was made to adjust the boat service schedule to ensure that teachers can arrive at school on time. The Governor instructed the Kayts Divisional Secretary to convene a discussion with the boat service operators and take necessary steps to revise the schedule accordingly.
Fishermen raised concerns that they were being adversely affected by trawlers operating in both Indian waters and from the Kurunagar area. In response, a representative from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources noted that the presence of Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters has declined compared to previous years. He further explained that trawling has been officially permitted in certain areas of Sri Lanka, which has led to fishermen from Kurunagar engaging in this activity.
The official also informed the Honorable Governor that, in cases where damage is caused by trawlers from the Kurunagar area, compensation is obtained from the relevant fisheries association—provided there is sufficient evidence. Upon hearing this, the Governor firmly stated that, “It is not enough to merely collect compensation. If the same violations are repeated, their permits should be revoked.”
Meanwhile, the fishermen of Kurunagar have requested the removal of trawlers moored near the Kannaki Amman Temple, citing concerns over their proximity to the area. The Kayts Divisional Secretary assured that appropriate measures are currently being implemented and that a meeting to discuss this matter will be held next week.
Subsequently, a request was made for a patient transport boat to facilitate the transfer of patients from Analaithivu. In response, the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. A. Ketheeswaran, confirmed that the procurement and delivery process is already underway.
The community requested the widening and reconstruction of the main road in Analaithivu. In response, Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Mr. Annarasa stated, “With the cooperation of the local residents, this project can be undertaken through the Pradeshiya Sabha.”
Additionally, residents called for the reconstruction of the Analaithivu West Coast Road. Engineers from the Road Development Authority (RDA) informed the meeting that a 2.1 km stretch has already been included in the Rural Road Development Project. Concurrently, the Governor directed that the Analaithivu Mathathadi Road also be reconstructed under the supervision of the RDA. During discussions on road improvements, the community further requested the construction of a culvert at the location where one had existed previously.
The community requested the establishment of banking services on their island to facilitate deposits and withdrawals. The Divisional Secretary assured that necessary steps are currently underway to implement this service.
The community requested the construction of a lighthouse. A representative from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources confirmed that the lighthouse would be erected, along with the installation of five solar lights at the landing stage. Additionally, a request was made for the construction of a seawall along the western coast. The Governor assured that he would explore options for securing the necessary funding for this project.
A. Sothinathan, Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government and Acting Land Commissioner, stated that measures will be undertaken to reclaim government lands that have been allocated but remain undeveloped, with the aim of distributing them to landless individuals.
The farmers requested timely provision of chilli seeds and also urged that agricultural extension officers visit the plantations at least once a month to offer guidance. The Governor instructed that necessary measures be taken to address these requests. Additionally, the District Agriculture Director provided farmers with a contact number for further assistance.
The Chairman of the Council, representing a low-income Pradeshiya Sabha, requested a 20 percent waiver on the Council’s income for employee salaries over the next two years, citing financial burdens faced due to limited revenue. In response, S. Kapilan, Coordinator of the Jaffna District Coordination Committee, confirmed that a formal request has been submitted to the Ministry of Local Government regarding this matter.
Following the public grievance meeting, the Governor visited the Puliyandivu landing site. He instructed that arrangements be made to include the reconstruction of the landing site in the upcoming World Bank project, and that the connecting road be repaired through the Road Development Department.
Subsequently, the Governor visited Analaitivu Sadhasivam Mahavidyalaya and held discussions with the principal and teaching staff. It was brought to his attention that teachers have not been appointed for all subjects. The Governor requested the Zonal Education Director to pay special attention to the educational needs of the overseas island areas. Additionally, he emphasized that measures should be taken to reassign teachers originally from Analaitivu to schools on the island if they are currently employed elsewhere.
The Governor’s grievance meeting was attended by a distinguished group of officials, including the Chief Secretary, the Hon. Chairman and members of the Pradeshiya Sabha, Secretary to the Governor, Secretary to the Ministry of Local Government, Secretary to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Senior Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Kayts Divisional Secretary, Coordinator of the Jaffna District Coordination Committee, and a representative of the Minister of Fisheries.
Other participants included the Northern Provincial Local Government Commissioner, Provincial Directors of the Road Development Department and Department of Agriculture, Northern Provincial Cooperative Development Commissioner, Provincial Indigenous Medicine Commissioner, Regional Director of Health Services, Medical Officer of Health, Assistant Commissioner of Local Government, Zonal Director of Education, and representatives from the Coastal Protection Department, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Sri Lanka Electricity Board, Sri Lanka Transport Board, Irrigation Department, and various other departments.
