“There needs to be a shift in the mindset of constantly opposing everything. Instead, we should make use of available opportunities to engage in dialogue and secure what we need. By doing so, we can uplift the standard of living for the people of our province,” emphasized the Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, Mr. N. Vethanayahan.
The Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held on Saturday evening (27.09.2025) at Selva Palace, Jaffna, under the chairmanship of Mr. K. Vaseekaran, Chairman of the Chamber.
The Honorable Governor of the Northern Province, Mr. N. Vethanayahan, attended the event as the Chief Guest and addressed the gathering. In his speech, he noted that the Northern Province currently contributes only 4 percent to Sri Lanka’s Gross National Product (GNP). He emphasized that the region has the potential to raise this figure to 10 percent or more, but that its resources remain underutilized.
“Our contribution to national production can be significantly increased through two key approaches: converting raw materials into value-added products and expanding exports.
As several speakers before me rightly pointed out, the majority of people in our province are engaged primarily in rice cultivation. However, we are working to diversify this pattern. Many of the irrigation schemes that supported agriculture before the war have been destroyed, and to this day, 21 such schemes remain non-operational.
By reviving these schemes—particularly the lift irrigation systems—we can promote the cultivation of alternative crops and support farmers in transitioning to more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices,” the Governor stated.
“Our provincial farmers are highly skilled and capable of producing a wide range of crops in sufficient quantities. However, they are often affected by price volatility, which undermines their efforts. If stable and fair prices can be ensured, they will remain committed and enthusiastic about farming.
As I mentioned earlier, there is a pressing need to focus on value-added processing and export-oriented production. I urge the entrepreneurs present here today to take note of this opportunity and play an active role in transforming our agricultural sector,” the Governor emphasized.
“Some of our farmers still prefer to cultivate using traditional methods. However, with the advancement of modern agricultural techniques, it is now possible to achieve higher yields with lower investment. It’s important that our farmers begin to adopt these modern methods—there is a clear need for a shift in mindset.
More broadly, our people must move away from a habit of opposing initiatives with a negative attitude. I recall, during my time as the Jaffna District Secretary, a project was introduced to desalinate seawater. There was resistance from the public, who feared that the discharge of purified water back into the sea would harm fish populations. Yet today, fishermen in that very area report increased catches.
Similarly, when the wind farm was established in Palai, there were fears that it would prevent rainfall. But we now know that those concerns were unfounded. Instead of approaching every project with suspicion or resistance, we must start evaluating them based on the potential benefits they can bring to our people and our province,” the Governor said.
The event was graced by the presence of several distinguished guests, including Ms. Ramya Chandrasekaran, Head of Commercial and Consular Affairs at the Indian Consulate in Jaffna; Mr. Lakshman Abhayasekara, Chairman of the National Enterprise Authority; and Mr. Rajendra Thiyagarajah, Chairman of Best Capital Holdings.
