The Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, stated that private bus owners’ associations have made numerous concessions in the interest of a unified service, which has helped resolve many transportation-related issues.
The 25th anniversary of Mr. P. Kengatharan’s tenure as Chairman of the Jaffna Regional Amalgamated Bus Companies Association along with the association’s general meeting and the election of new management, was held this morning, Saturday (26.07.2025), at the Jaffna District Secretariat Auditorium.
The Governor, who attended as the chief guest, stated in his speech, “Following the displacement in 1995, we returned to the peninsula in 1996. At that time, I was serving as the Assistant Governor of Tellippalai, and our office was located in a private house in Mallakam. The Brigadier in charge of the area then asked what kind of assistance was needed to facilitate the return of the people. I responded that transport facilities needed to be arranged. It was during this period that I was introduced to Mr. Kengatharan, who, if I recall correctly, was the President of the Tellippalai Association at the time. He informed the Brigadier about a fuel shortage. Their request was fulfilled, and soon, transport services were initiated.”
From that day to this, Kengatharan has stood by me. He has never refused a single request I have made. During the resettlement period, he worked closely with us to organize various transportation services to support the resettling of displaced individuals. For that, I take this opportunity to sincerely thank him. He consistently advocates for the needs of his Sangam employees and ensures that the tasks we request are carried out efficiently through them. Because of this, he has maintained a strong and positive relationship with government administrative officials.
The Governor further stated in his speech that no one should fear doing the right thing. “There will always be those who complain,” he said. “You cannot please everyone. I believe there is no need to respond to allegations or criticisms from those who stray from the righteous and honest path.”
The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Jaffna District Secretary Mr. M. Pratheepan, Assistant Chief Secretary Mrs. Anert Ninthusa Anthony Dines, Northern Provincial Deputy Registrar General Mr. P. Prabhakar, General Manager of the Northern Provincial Road Passenger Transport Authority Mr. P. Jayarajah, and President of the Sri Lanka Private Bus Owners Association Mr. Gemunu Wijeyarathne.
