A meeting was held between the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, and the Canadian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Eric Walsh, at the Governor’s Secretariat on Monday morning (14.07.2025).
“The Canadian Ambassador informed the Governor that he would be returning to Canada next month upon completion of his assignment in Sri Lanka. The Governor expressed his gratitude for the Ambassador’s cooperation during his tenure and for the continued support extended by the Canadian government in the past.
Highlighting the numerous land disputes in the Northern Province, particularly in the Vanni region, the Governor stated that the primary cause of these issues is the destruction of documents during the war.
The Governor highlighted the challenges that have arisen from the Department of Forests and the Department of Wildlife having previously gazetted lands using Google Maps, without consulting authorities here. He also briefed the Canadian Ambassador on the steps the current government has taken to address the issue. In response, the Ambassador acknowledged that the actions of these departments have impacted not only the Northern Province but other regions as well.
The Governor pointed out that the housing projects initiated in the Northern Province in 2019 are still in mid-implementation, and as a result, people continue to face difficulties. He requested support to help these communities complete the projects. He also informed the Canadian Ambassador that many female-headed households are engaged in productive activities and emphasized the need for assistance to create opportunities for them to access international markets.
The Governor noted that employment opportunities in the Northern Province remain a challenge and urged that Canadian investors be encouraged to establish factories in the region to process agricultural and marine products into value-added goods as a sustainable solution.
The Canadian Ambassador also inquired about the progress of the investment zones planned to be set up in the North and the expansion of the Jaffna International Airport.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Governor, M. Nanthagopalan and the Governor’s liaison secretaries.
