With Jaffna being selected as the best tourist destination for 2026, the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, during a meeting with the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, assured its full cooperation in the initiatives to beautify the city of Jaffna.
A meeting between the members of the Executive Committee of the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce and the Hon. Governor was held at the Governor’s Secretariat on Tuesday evening 04th November 2025. During the meeting, various issues raised by the Chamber of Commerce were presented and discussed in detail.
It was noted that although the process of updating the licenses of several shops in the Jaffna Modern Market Building Complex had been initiated earlier, it has not progressed significantly. In response, the Hon. Governor requested the Hon. Mayor and the Commissioner of the Jaffna Municipal Council to take necessary action by appointing dedicated personnel and ensuring the speedy completion of the process. The representatives of the trade associations further highlighted that the Municipal Council stands to generate several crores of rupees in revenue through the completion of these license updates.
The representatives of the trade association also raised concerns regarding the parking facilities at the Jaffna Modern Market Building Complex. In response, the Hon. Governor requested that the suitability of the location identified by them be inspected in person and that appropriate action be taken for implementation.
They further expressed their regret over the deteriorating condition of public toilets in the city, including those within the Modern Market Building Complex. The Governor instructed that necessary repairs be carried out promptly and that continuous maintenance measures be ensured.
Additionally, the representatives pointed out that the Modern Market Building Complex has not been painted for many years and that the central part of Jaffna city has fallen into a state of disrepair. The Governor assured that full cooperation would be extended to the Municipal Council to facilitate painting, beautification, and tree-planting initiatives within the city.
The representatives of the trade associations also emphasised the need to install statues at prominent locations across Jaffna city, noting that similar initiatives in other cities of Sri Lanka have added vibrancy and character to urban spaces. In response, the Hon. Governor requested that suitable locations be identified for the installation of such statues and that arrangements be made accordingly. He also instructed that the existing statues be repainted and maintained to enhance their appearance and lifelike quality.
A statement was also made regarding the management of sewage and garbage within Jaffna city. While acknowledging the efforts taken by the Municipal Council to address these issues, the representatives of the trade associations requested that the cleaning process be expedited and that appropriate regulations and penalties be introduced to ensure better waste management. The Hon. Governor instructed the Municipal Council to take necessary steps to implement these measures promptly.
Furthermore, the representatives of the trade associations expressed concern that traders were being adversely affected by the recently introduced one-way traffic system in Jaffna. In response, the Hon. Governor noted that, according to feedback from the general public, traffic congestion in the city had significantly reduced following the implementation of the one-way system.
The trade representatives, however, pointed out that the main cause of congestion was the bus stand located at the centre of the city. They suggested that this issue could be alleviated if both private operators and the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) operated long-distance buses from the new bus stand instead. They also raised concerns about the illegal activities taking place around the central bus stand due to unauthorised shops.
Recalling that the Chief Regional Manager of the SLTB had previously informed the District Secretariat meeting that the shops surrounding the central bus stand would be removed under the Clean Sri Lanka Project, the Governor stated that once long-distance buses are shifted to the new bus stand, the resulting changes in traffic flow could be observed and the situation reassessed accordingly.
The Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Hon. Mayor of the Jaffna Municipal Council, and the Commissioner of the Municipal Council also participated in the discussion.
