28 March, 2024

Blog

A Meeting After The Vidhya’s Rape & Murder In Jaffna

By Thanges Paramsothy

Thanges Paramsothy

Thanges Paramsothy

The Velanai DS office arranged a meeting at the North Ceylon Sarvodayam, Pungudutivu where the twelve GS of Pungudutivu, the Vellani DS, the Jaffna GA, the secretory for the governor of the northern provincial council, the head of Pradeshiya Shaba, a navy officer, a police officer and some people of Pungudutivu participated. The meeting took place on 16th June 2015. It was scheduled at 2 pm, but started around 2.45 pm. I too had a chance to take part at the meeting. It was said at the beginning that the meeting was arranged in order to get people’s voice on the important problems that they face in their everyday life in Pungudutivu and to find possible solutions.

The government officers, who were on the stage, talked very less, let much time for people to talk on their problems. The Jaffna GA and the secretory of the northern Provincial council repeatedly highlighted that “the governor of the northern province is very much interested to solve the problems in Pungudutivu. It is a golden opportunity for us to work together and find solutions for our problems”. After their introductory speech, they opened the stage for the audience in order to convey the problems in Pungudutivu.

A number of individuals appearing on the stage listed countless problems such as alcoholism, a bar near school and temple, lack of transport facilities, hospital, poor education, hundreds of abandoned houses, theft, forming a vigilant group in each ward, developing jetty, reconstructing ponds for irrigation, agriculture, fishing, unemployment, the abandoned cattle, lack of banking facilities, lack of drinking water and so on. The list continued. It seemed that the government officers carefully noted the issues in front of people. Finally, the Jaffna GA listed a couple of issues for which they would contact relevant authority in order to find solutions soon. Soon after the meeting, all the officers including the twelve GS, the DS, the GA and other officers spent couple of minutes outside the hall and got into their vehicle to travel towards Jaffna. People went to their home in Pungudutivu. That is all. The meeting was over.

Jaffna RapePhoto: by Thanges Paramsothy, the meeting held at North Ceylon Sarvodayam Pungudutivu

I would like to take this opportunity to indicate my observation at the meeting and afterwards. For me, the meeting is more or less like a counselling workshop where the counsellors (in this case, they are the government officers) spend much time listening to the persons who are traumatised (in this case, they are the people who participated in the meeting). People one by one were listing the issues explaining their grievances. Those who organised the meeting were listening to them. If it is a meeting for solving some practical issues, I am quite sure that all the GS know these problems, as they have been “closely” working with people for a long time. They too meet once a week at the DS office in order to talk these issues. If it is the case, then the question arises why such a meeting was organised. Even though the GA noted some problems taken into consideration at the end of the meeting, there was no any promise given to the people when and how they are expected to solve. If the government of Sri Lanka finds a solution at least for a problem out of the hundred of problems people listed, the meeting will be success according to my opinion. Otherwise, I will say it is a good counselling or healing practice took place on 16th June after the Vidhya’s rape and murder.

I also got a chance to talk to couple of individuals who appeared on the stage as listeners. They said “when we take these issues to the next levels, they will immediately ask us how many people live in Pungudutivu. If they ask that question, we need to keep quite because there are very less number of people living”. I feel that those, who are in the development field, repeatedly fail to deliver their services saying unnecessary reasons. It can be millions of people or it can be hundreds of people. We should learn to treat them equally. Are you asking all Pungudutivu people moving toward densely populated areas in order to have a better life by saying this? Or are you justifying this as a limit of service to the less populated areas in Sri Lanka? For me it is irresponsible answer that I got from one of the officers. It is your responsibility convincing the next levels and delivering good services to the people. It is also the responsibility of the state and its establishments ensuring good services to the disadvantaged communities without counting numbers of the citizens in a region.

*Thanges Paramsothy, PhD Research Student in Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, University of East London

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Latest comments

  • 4
    8

    TNA the vellala Political outfit in Srilanka does not want non Tamils to settle in Punguduthtivu or any other part of the peninsula….Right.

    Samabnadan , the TNA Chief wants to keep the Pennisula clean to establish Eelaam. aka the Northern Government of Ceylon…

    • 2
      2

      K A Sumanasekera,

      “TNA the vellala Political outfit in Srilanka does not want non Tamils to settle in Punguduthtivu or any other part of the peninsula….Right.“

      Please note that even Tamils have left the island because there is pretty much nothing there. I think that I read some where that there were 28000 people there before the war and now only some thousands often elderly are staying.

      • 2
        2

        KAS – the whole island is available for you. Why dont you reloacate.

        • 3
          2

          Rajash,

          I am also considering moving to the island. There is a bar and the houses are likely to be cheap because nobody wants them. I do not need any services except internet.

          As long as KAS does not disturb me he is welcome as a neighbor. I am not a racist.

        • 3
          0

          Rajash

          “KAS – the whole island is available for you.”

          Once the clan takes over the island.

          Last person to leave should remember to switch off the lights.

      • 1
        1

        Heretic

        ” I think that I read some where that there were 28000 people there before the war and now only some thousands often elderly are staying. “

        Courtsey of Maveeran God Velupillai Prabakaran and his LTTE Coinies..

        Forgotten People – The Evicted and Displaced North Muslims of Sri Lanka (English)

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JV60McNQ9o

        Published on Jun 1, 2013
        The Evicted and Displaced North Muslims of Sri Lanka. The expulsion of the Muslims and other nations from the Northern province was an act of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Tamil militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization in October 1990. In order to achieve their goal of creating a mono ethnic Tamil state in the North Sri Lanka, the LTTE forcibly expelled the 72,000 strong Muslim population from the Northern Province.

        • 1
          1

          Amarasiri,

          I know about the NP Muslims but we are now not discussing them.

          There is reconstruction in the Muslim area of Jaffna town. The school is open, many mosques operate and houses have been rebuilt.

          Apparently the Muslims who have returned to Jaffna did not receive any support from anybody. They are mostly owners of small businesses.

    • 5
      1

      K.A Sumanasekera

      Here is an illuminating lecture on food, thoughts, and health. Listen to Dr. Hegde, you may have a slim chance of redemption. Mostly about maintaining balance of thridosa.

      IVU 42nd world veg fest at chennai – Dr. Hegde speech

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjJAlzhos8o

      Forget Crab walk/talk (sideways).

    • 0
      2

      KAS,
      This is people’s problem. It is not about Buddhist fundamentalist blood thirsty problem. You and Mahinda wants to establish a clean land for blood sucking murderers but People of Srilanka donot want your nasty thuggery criminalism in this island. This island is for humans, not for monsters.

    • 1
      2

      Thanges Paramsothy

      “TNA the vellala Political outfit in Srilanka does not want non Tamils to settle in Punguduthtivu or any other part of the peninsula….Right”

      So, that is why the Northern Muslims cannot get back home…Ethinic cleansing by the Tamils, and LTTE War Crimes. These war Criminals are at Still at Large.

      Forgotten People – The Evicted and Displaced North Muslims of Sri Lanka (English)

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JV60McNQ9o

      Published on Jun 1, 2013
      The Evicted and Displaced North Muslims of Sri Lanka. The expulsion of the Muslims and other nations from the Northern province was an act of ethnic cleansing carried out by the Tamil militant Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) organization in October 1990. In order to achieve their goal of creating a mono ethnic Tamil state in the North Sri Lanka, the LTTE forcibly expelled the 72,000 strong Muslim population from the Northern Province.

    • 0
      0

      Sumane need the services of psyhiatrist very fast.Poor man!

  • 3
    2

    K A Sumanasekera the MR Coolie talks sideways as usual without addressing the issue

    here the author is talking of Pukuduthivu and he is talking about his infatuation with the Vellalas

    also please note MR K A Sumanasekera the TNA nor any Tamil party is not against any Sinhalese or Muslims settling down in Jaffna or any part of North or the East as long as they go there on their own hard work if you happen to see Jaffna you can see the number os Sinhala businesses doing well and living very happily there (from the Colobo Jaffna Bus owners to Bakeries and Moratuwa kollas selling Furniture)

    Its the state sponsored colonisation done on purpose is what the Tamil parties are against so please do note that without trying to create mischief

    btw do keep talking sideways like a crabwalk as the more you do the more people on CT will take you for a clown mate!

    • 2
      5

      P, Lover,

      Doesn’t your Vellala Buddy Sambandan want the Northern Govt citizens to eat only Dosai and Iddly?.

      Wonder who buy those High Tin Sinhala Buddhist Bread loaves.. ,

      Specially after your mates Ranil’ and his Nephew have closed down 59 Army Camps..

      • 2
        0

        K A Sumanasekera says

        i)Doesn’t your Vellala Buddy Sambandan want the Northern Govt citizens to eat only Dosai and Iddly?.

        Definitely not please give us proof

        ii)”Wonder who buy those High Tin Sinhala Buddhist Bread loaves.. , Specially after your mates Ranil’ and his Nephew have closed down 59 Army Camps”

        The citizens of the country in Jaffna buy them the same way they buy tickets to travel on the D S Gunasekera Jaffna Colombo luxuary bus service

        Your comments show the ignorance in you mate and only make you look quite foolish in all our eyes (except perhaps Ella Kollas)

        I strongly suggest you cleanse your mind of these unwholesome thoughts like Native Vedha suggested

      • 1
        1

        Sumanasekera,

        “Wonder who buy those High Tin Sinhala Buddhist Bread loaves.. ,“

        Maybe you do not know it but Tamils have the highest consumption of wheat flour in SL. Among Tamils the so called Estate or Indian Tamils lead.

        Unfortunately most of the Jaffna “dalits“ eat a lot of bread. Easy to buy,no cooking needed,relatively cheap but very little nutrition.

        Many of the poor eat bread three times a day. If they are lucky they have some lentils to add.

        About half of the children here are malnourished. They only eat bread or rice with very little else.

        Maybe you should visit the “dalits“ instead of golf and single malt Scotch?

        Go to the toddy tavern on the island and ask the men how their families are doing while they are drinking.

        • 0
          2

          Heretic,

          Thanks for your response.

          I was on Bread and Dhall or Rice and Dhall for a long long time mate.

          Don’t you worry about that..

          In fact it was rotated to Dhall and Bread and Dhall and Rice to give it variety,

          But I am alarmed that so many Dalits are still on Dhall..

          And it makes me more determined to expose this Yahapalana BS, which is nothing but a clever cover to make the Rich Fatter and keep the Rural Poor Slimmer..

          This is not because the UNP cares about Heart decease of the Dalits.

          But keeping them in the bush, denying them education and hence good employment , is the UNP way of keeping Political Power in the hands of the Elite.

          Talking about Toddy, I have had both Palm on my way to Nagadeepam and Pol in Marawila on the way to St Annes.

          They both tasted good, although Palm has more sugar.Still they beat the Single Malt by a country mile.

          But the problem is you have to drink it fresh, That means it is a pre lunch drink.

          Unless you go to the Tavern after work.

          But then the alcohol is starting to kick in and turn it into Viniger, although it might give you a bigger kick.

          • 0
            0

            Well this comment of K A Sumanasekera only exposes himself further as a cheap mercenary writer to the core and he is not as stupid as you think he is a snake under the grass and his tactic seems to be to diver the issue

          • 0
            0

            You can buy your toddy, hopefully as its just brought down the tree.
            Place in fridge and drink in the evening, no fermentation.

            Chilled as nice as cider and naturally effervescent.

            A dash V8/tomato juice, mango or what ever makes it a great cocktail.

            Hopefully the cock gets the tail.

    • 1
      0

      A crab side walking is understandable, but a poisonous racist side winder snake is something that has to be confronted and put down especially if it is of Vellala variety and plays Golf.

  • 2
    0

    Thanges,

    01: What was the objective(agenda) of this meeting?

    02: Did the Government officials present achieve the stated objective?
    (At times, the purpose of such meetings is to identify the trouble makers!!)

    03: What was the role of an East London University student at this meeting?

    • 2
      0

      Thamilan
      Let me try and answer your queries although I am not a spokesperson for the author of the article.
      1) The answer to the first question is stated in the first para of his article
      2) You have yourselves replied within brackets.
      3) Author has said he is a PhD Research Student from the East London University ,so the reason why he was there
      should be clear .

  • 3
    1

    Thanges,

    Thank you for this first hand report where somebody actually had his boots on the ground.

    My first observation is that apparently there was only one politician at the meeting assuming that the head of the PS is the chairperson of the PS and thus a politician. Maybe the other politicians are unwilling to visit the island after the earlier bad experiences when there was trouble due to Swiss Kumar?

    I also believe that all the GS, DS and GA should already know about the problems the islanders have. This information should have been and recorded and provided by the GSs a long time ago. My experience from another area is that the GSs often appear to be blind and deaf missing vital information about the village where they work. Often the poorest are forgotten in the official statistics that are collected by the GS and published by the DS. I have often wondered whether there is a conspiracy to hide facts or is it just another case of lethargy.

    It would be interesting to read the Velanai DS annual report that contains information on economy, education, health etc and compare it with the complaints and the reality of the islanders. Are there any contradictions? If we try to obtain a copy of this document we might be told that it is not available for outsiders.I am pretty sure that if we ever get the Right to Information Act all interesting documents will be classified top secret for being too sensitive.

    A bar or wine store near a school and a place of worship is illegal. I believe that there should be a minimum distance of 500 meters but it also depends on who was there first. In my area there is a new wine store and it is also too near a place of worship. My suggestion is to make a written complaint about the bar to close it down.

    The GS is by law a peace officer who should keep an eye on criminality and engage in preventive measures in his or her village. Many GS divisions have a peace committee but maybe this idea has not reached Pungudutivu. Creating these groups is the work of the GSs, Velanai DS and Kayts OIC.

    As usual I do not understand who is in charge. Is Governor Palihakkara or the Jaffna Government Agent Vethanayahan the boss of the DS and GSs? Anybody who can help me?

  • 2
    2

    Thanges,

    “A number of individuals appearing on the stage listed countless problems such as alcoholism, a bar near school and temple, lack of transport facilities, hospital, poor education, hundreds of abandoned houses, theft, forming a vigilant group in each ward, developing jetty, reconstructing ponds for irrigation, agriculture, fishing, unemployment, the abandoned cattle, lack of banking facilities, lack of drinking water and so on. The list continued. “

    Thank you especially for a balanced article. Articles and comments like yours rarely originate in Jaffna.

    As a Jaffna Tamil you should know better.

    It is essential to blame all the problems of the islanders on the Sinhalese Chauvinist Buddhists. The only solution available is total devolution of power to the Northern Province but an independent Tamil Eelam would be better.

    Jesus turned water into wine. With enough devolution Northern Tamil politicians will turn brackish water into something we can drink.

  • 2
    0

    Very good sentiments. Keep up your good work.Bensen

  • 3
    0

    Dear Thanges Paramsothy,

    Thank you for sharing this information. It is good that government officials listened to the people to identify the problems faced by the people of Pugudutivu. However, it is not going to resolve the problems by listening alone. The next meeting may be held when another incident happen only. There are number of places in the North East including other islands you find similar problems. The North East was under war for long period and specific attention should be given at micro level. The important thing in resolving the problems is the participation of all those government officials, politicians, relegious leaders, civil societies from Pungudutivu have to sit together and discuss together to come up with identifying the problems (group them into various categories, subgroups, groups such as security, transport, education, etc.) and come up with possible solutions, what actions should be taken to resolve the problems. Always the resources are limited and you have to find the solutions within available resources.

  • 5
    0

    The islands around Jaffna are desolate places now. They have lost a sizeable proportion of their once vibrant population. The war, migration, paramilitary activities and lack of development have taken their toll. There must be investments in infrastructure, civic services, policing, job creation and tourism to encourage a reverse migration. The road net work and ferry services need dramatic improvements.

    However, the politicians and public servants lack the desire, imagination, drive and will to act. The have plenty of excuses. The Grama Sevakas who are at the bottom of the pile, are a curse. The statistics they provide, as Heretic above refers to, are suspect. They misuse their powers and have woven a web of sloth, favouritism and corruption.
    There is no vision, no objectives, no master plans and no will. Small persons with small minds pervade the system and render it purposeless.

    Dr. Rajasingham Narendran

  • 0
    0

    The roads in Jaffna are very good. Even the roads to Kayts and the roads inside the island are in a very good condition. We visited last year and it was really heartening to see how much work had been done by the last government. Electricity was available in the most remote areas and all the poor people had televisions. The water lines were laid and the street taps were fixed but there was a problem with obtaining the water supplies. All this is useless because the tamils will keep fighting among themselves about caste, about not wanting sinhalese to come and settle there, about who is going to be in control (whether it is the vellalas or prabakarans crowd or the tamil diaspora crowd). With this kind of insular thinking this is a cursed place and I feel really sorry for the poor tamils who have no say in any of this politics.

    Any interested parties should first visit Jaffna and move around there before writing here. Jaffna town is full of muslims and muslim shops and I am sorry to say there are very few saivar kades there. Most probably you did not like the idea of muslims and sinhalese coming in there that is why when so much was being done you people got rid of the people doing all this for the north. The various groups the diaspora, the vellalas etc did not want to lose control of the tamils whom they can abuse, rape and do whatever they want if they have control over them.

    • 0
      0

      msd,

      I am happy that you have visited Jaffna and seen part of the reality.

      “The roads in Jaffna are very good. Even the roads to Kayts and the roads inside the island are in a very good condition. We visited last year and it was really heartening to see how much work had been done by the last government. Electricity was available in the most remote areas and all the poor people had televisions.“

      Despite all his faults MR ordered CEB, SLT and RDA to do a lot of work here since the war ended. Many government schools have also been repaired.

      Electricity might be available but the poorest can not pay for it and continue with kerosene lamps.

      Since when is television a sign of positive progress?

      “The water lines were laid and the street taps were fixed but there was a problem with obtaining the water supplies.“

      In some rural areas local small scale water supply systems exist. These are not new and have usually been funded with NGO or UN money. The quality of the water is not good because there is no good water to distribute.

      • 0
        0

        Dear Heretic,
        What you are reporting is generally true. However, the photographs of the road Vithya travelled to school in Pungudutheevu, tells another side of the story. How could children go to school through such roads bordered by scrub Jungle? The road from Pannai to the ferry boarding point to Nainateevu is good, Similarly, the road to and along Chaati beach- a tourist resort-is good. The road leading to the Navy camp in the area is also good. How about the other interior roads?

        Further, there is a water pumping station in the Chaati area, which is filing bowsers to take water into other areas, probably also in the mainland. Chaati has excellent quality water. I have tasted the best well water there. However, the water in this area is being thoughtlessly depleted.

        What a casual tourist sees is only a partial reality.

        Further, harassment of young girls, I am told, borders on criminality. No effort has been made to deter this. One mother of three young school going daughters told me that these teenage male vagabonds and criminals, even inquire from her daughters, the colour of the inner garments they are wearing! This mother has a son with a kidney ailment and her husband is a cancer patient. She has no house of her own and occupies a house in a lonely area of Punguduteevu, as a caretaker. The owner of the house has migrated. She is poor and has no alternatives. How can this mother bring up her daughters safely, in such circumstances? How many such mothers live in the islands, Jaffna and the Vanni?

        Dr.RN

        Dr.RN

  • 1
    1

    I found today something that has to do with politics, corruption and local authorities in the Northern Province.

    The good news is that a complaint has been made at the Anti-Corruption Committee Office against EPDP leader and MP, Douglas Devananda. Behind the complaint are ITAK MP M.A. Sumanthiran and Chairman of the Point Pedro Pradeshiya Sabha T. Sanjeeva.

    http://www.ft.lk/article/434493/Corruption-complaint-against-Douglas-Devananda

    The bad news is that the sand mining apparently without any permit has been going on for years. The profits from the sand mining have been going to Maheshwari Foundation that is assumed to be close to the EPDP. I can understand that during MR nobody complained about this activity due to fear of the EPDP.

    http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=17697

    Why have Sumanthiran and Sanjeeva complained to the Anti-Corruption Committee?

    Sand mining without a permit is an activity that in my opinion can and should be stopped by the local authorities meaning PS and NPC. For this the local authorities have been given power. The local authorities should stop the sand mining and demand that Maheshwari Foundation applies for a permit. This is an environmental crime and might affect the quality of ground water.

    http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=17697

  • 1
    2

    Heretic you idiot:

    Stop poking your nose into subjects on which you are not qualified to comment.

    I thought you are in Zimbabwe with your blood brother Mugabe the most civilsed Nation on Earth unlike Jaffna which is yet to develop. It will develop as soon as we chase you and your barbaric brothers out.

    Sorry for the strange symbols. I am in Zimbabwe and having problems with the <Eye Pad<.

    *** It was a dodgy Eye Pad and I take it that you bought it in a Market in Zimbabwe.

    Nothern province is full of Imported Sinkalams from the South who are Corrupt to the Core.

    Douglas was employed by the CRIMINAL Gotha to extort money and every rupee went in the Pocket of Gotha.

    • 0
      1

      Dear Ms kali,

      I am the Zimbabwean girlfriend of Mr Heretic. Please observe that our 12 year old daughter called Perpetual Heavenly Bundle is helping her father with the Eye Pad. She has read your comment and is very upset now.

      If you continue your behavior I will report you to the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) Task Force that protects children from abuse.

      http://www.childprotection.gov.lk/news/

      Thank you and God bless you,

      Perpetual Heavenly Joy,
      Heretic Tobacco Farm
      Gweru
      Zimbabwe

  • 1
    0

    Thanges Paramsothy:

    The meeting was arranged not to address the Grievances of the people but to fool the World that Sri Lanka has come back into Civilisation ( Heretic the Idiot will confirm this ).
    Those Government Officers are born DEAF

  • 0
    0

    Dear All,

    I was wrong about the PS and sand mining permits.

    http://www.adzking.com/index.php/political-portal/102-administrative-district-colombo/1911-divisional-secretariat-homagama

    Many of the problems of the islanders actually should be taken care of by the Divisional Secretariat of Velanai and GA Jaffna. For instance,

    Permits for toddy and liquor. Prevention of drugs. Liquor shop objection inspections.

    For sand mining and liquor shops the GS must give his or her recommendation for the DS to make a decision. I can understand if a GS is afraid of objecting to granting of permits for these businesses that generate a lot on money. The idea of course is to include local knowledge in decision making but this will not work due to fear and corruption. These kind of permits should be granted by people who cannot be identified.

  • 0
    0

    The NPC also is showing some interest in the problems of the people. If anything is done is another matter as usual. There are Hindu temples pretty much everywhere in Jaffna so that finding a place for a wine store might be very difficult.

    Cancel liqour licences contravening excise laws

    [June 14 2015]

    by P. Krishnaswamy

    The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) adopted a resolution last Monday to request the Finance Minister and other authorities to cancel licences issued in contravention of Excise laws in the country.

    According to NPC Chairman, C.V.K.Sivagnanam, the resolution was adopted in the wake of the increasing incidents of violence and gruesome criminal acts that have been witnessed in the recent past and considering public opinion that liquor shops and wine stores are located in prohibited and undesirable places, In a letter to Finance Minister, Ravi Karunanake ,with copies to the Excise Department and all Government Agents of the five Northern districts, the NPC Chairman has been informed of the resolution passed by the Council.

    http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2015/06/21/oostory.asp?sid=20150614_02&imid=NPC.jpg&dt=%5BJune%2014%202015%5D

  • 2
    0

    While the powerless? NPC passes resolutions other authorities act.

    I have been told that a bag of ganja in my area of rural Jaffna costs rs 300 but the weight of the product remains unknown.

    “I have cleared all the vadey carts and ice cream vans near the schools, which sell ganja and drugs mixed with arecanuts, to schoolchildren, in the guise of normal vendors,” he said. “

    I saw popcorn and nut sellers without a cart in front of a school on Friday.

    “A special team comprising 5 Vavuniya Excise Dept officials, under the directive of its Commissioner, visited Jaffna to investigate how narcotics are smuggled into and distributed in the region. “

    Has a team been brought in from Vavunya due to the fear of Jaffna officers or the fact that they might be corrupted? Maybe both?

    “In 2014, 21 million litres of arrack, 4.2 million litres of beer, 33.6 million litres of brandy, and 10.8 litres of whisky were consumed.“

    I do not believe that we drink more brandy than arrack and more whisky than beer appears wrong also.

    “Not surprisingly, the study found, when comparing with the other 15 Divisional Secretariats in the Districts, the highest heroin use was reported from the Delft, where last month a 17-year-old schoolgirl was raped and murdered.

    Considering the population of 15-year-olds and above in the Delft, the study reveals that cannabis use has gone up to 3.31% from 0.2% recently. It also points to the increased use of various medicinal drugs and CorexD cough syrup which is significantly high in the Delft DS which is 2.16 and 1.32% respectively.“

    Delft? Should be Velanai DS and Pungutivu. Has the author of the article been in Jaffna?

    “Distribution of drugs is not possible without the knowledge of authorities deployed to enforce law and order. Victims of the brutal war should have access to counseling and the right to mourn. Failure to do so will result in violence. This environment is manipulated so that their rights are not a priority.”

    True but drugs must also be seen by the staff of the schools who do not do anything. Counseling maybe belongs to the NPC Ministry of Health?

    ”Former Chief of Police Narcotic Bureau, Anthon Jeyanathan said the Northern people’s lifestyles, along with the financial support from the Diaspora, may have led to this sudden decadence.

    “It is natural that, after almost 3 decades of war, the youth would tend to experiment with the liberated situation they got after 2009. Access to Internet and mobile phones have become common, but the prospects of employment are relatively low. Hence, they seek this type of relief,” he said.”

    I agree.

    Jaffna Authorities act fast against alarming hike in alcohol, drugs use
    By S. Rubatheesan
    View(s):

    Police in the Jaffna district have undertaken special round-the-clock patrolling and formulated an ‘Anti-drug plan’ to eradicate this menace from the region, said a senior police official. Newly appointed Headquarters Inspector (HQI) of Jaffna, Fredrick Woodler, said he has started awareness campaigns on the use of these dangerous drugs in all the schools in the district.

    “We have identified issues in the district other than drugs such as alcohol abuse, children and women abuse, use of mobile phones, social media, and conduct of the younger generation. I have cleared all the vadey carts and ice cream vans near the schools, which sell ganja and drugs mixed with arecanuts, to schoolchildren, in the guise of normal vendors,” he said.
    Following serious concerns over the rapid increase of drugs and alcohol usage in the Northern Province, the authorities got into action with the arrest of 12 persons with ganja, this week alone.

    In an urban high school in Jaffna this week, a teacher noticed some students in her class using a different kind of arecanut and informed the principal. The arecanut aroused the suspicions of the principal who informed police and disciplinary officers attached to the Jaffna District Secretariat.

    When police questioned the students as to how they came by the arecanut packets, they identified the source. Subsequently, two persons were arrested and were found to be operating a small manufacturing unit of this arecanut called ‘mava’.
    A special team comprising 5 Vavuniya Excise Dept officials, under the directive of its Commissioner, visited Jaffna to investigate how narcotics are smuggled into and distributed in the region.

    “All those arrested this week are in their 20s. We were concerned that these youngsters are exposed to this menace at this age. We expect to conduct raids like this in future,” said P. Ragunathan, who headed the special team from Vavuniya.

    Last month, the Jaffna District Secretary, in a letter to the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Jaffna, identified the places and schools where illicit sale of liquor and drugs took place in the District, and where incidences of sexual abuse and exploitation have increased significantly after the end of the conflict in 2009.

    According to a study by the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) in Jaffna District, there were 130 drug related arrests last year alone, including 8 for possessing heroin. Alcohol consumption in the district too increased proportionally with the use of drugs. In 2014, 21 million litres of arrack, 4.2 million litres of beer, 33.6 million litres of brandy, and 10.8 litres of whisky were consumed.

    Not surprisingly, the study found, when comparing with the other 15 Divisional Secretariats in the Districts, the highest heroin use was reported from the Delft, where last month a 17-year-old schoolgirl was raped and murdered.

    Considering the population of 15-year-olds and above in the Delft, the study reveals that cannabis use has gone up to 3.31% from 0.2% recently. It also points to the increased use of various medicinal drugs and CorexD cough syrup which is significantly high in the Delft DS which is 2.16 and 1.32% respectively.

    In one instance, the Sunday Times learns that many youth are involved in drug trafficking using smart phones reload system, which enable them to deposit money to a particular mobile number with a secret code. They have to make a reload to one of their contact’s specific number, and when they want to collect the ‘stuff’, they have to show the verification code from the mobile service provider.

    “Mava”, an arecanut based drug is like chewing-gum among schoolchildren. They keep the arecanut inside their mouth for a long time which gives them a heady feeling. Vendors in the guise of selling ice cream in a box, turn up around schools at starting and ending time, and distribute ‘mava’ only to specific ‘customers’.

    Fr, Elil Rajan, co-spokesman for Tamil Civil Society Forum, a network consisting of more than 100 Tamil Civil Society Activists from the North-East, said, getting the schoolchildren and youth addicted to drugs is a form of counter insurgency used by external actors in the North and East.

    “Distribution of drugs is not possible without the knowledge of authorities deployed to enforce law and order. Victims of the brutal war should have access to counseling and the right to mourn. Failure to do so will result in violence. This environment is manipulated so that their rights are not a priority.”

    Fr Rajan pointed out that the ultimate goal of these forces is to dismantle the social and moral values that would divert the attention of the youth away from the cause and their rights they have been demanding for. The counseling assistant to Jaffna, appointed by the NDDCB, Edwin Rojar said it’s high time to act on this menace, and to do that, many things need to be done, including setting up a rehabilitation centre in the province.

    “Even though they have been engaged in an active campaign with awareness programmes against drug use in the province, subtle actions by the police and other security agencies, is inevitable,” said Kokuvil Hindu College Principal, Velayuthapillai Ganakanthan.

    “From last week, police officers, Divisional Secretariat officers and Public Health officers have flocked to our school to enlighten students on the dangers of these drugs. I hope there will be a marked change in the near future, but we have to wait and see.” he said.

    The Military rejected allegations that suggest it may be behind the drug trafficking in the Northern Province and insists it informed the police when they got to know of such instances taking place in the area. Military Spokesman Jayanath Jayaweera told the Sunday Times that the Military maintains its fundamental disciplines not only in the north but also in the south.

    “We maintain strict discipline. After civilian administration was restored to the north, it is up to the police to take necessary actions,” he said. Former Chief of Police Narcotic Bureau, Anthon Jeyanathan said the Northern people’s lifestyles, along with the financial support from the Diaspora, may have led to this sudden decadence.

    “It is natural that, after almost 3 decades of war, the youth would tend to experiment with the liberated situation they got after 2009. Access to Internet and mobile phones have become common, but the prospects of employment are relatively low. Hence, they seek this type of relief,” he said.

    Mr Jeyanathan said the police, along with the other responsible actors, should get into action to eliminate this menace that has started to destabilise the people of the region.

    http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150621/news/jaffna-authorities-act-fast-against-alarming-hike-in-alcohol-drugs-use-154258.html

Leave A Comment

Comments should not exceed 200 words. Embedding external links and writing in capital letters are discouraged. Commenting is automatically disabled after 5 days and approval may take up to 24 hours. Please read our Comments Policy for further details. Your email address will not be published.