On my last day in Sri Lanka, the Government provided me a Mi-17 helicopter
to visit Mannar, Jaffna and Trincomalee. At Mannar, I was briefed on the
ongoing de-mining work and the repair of the irrigation system. Mannar has
a system of irrigation tanks which makes it a rice bowl. I also saw a new
bridge being constructed by the Japanese to Mannar Island which is at one
end of the string of sandbanks connecting Sri Lanka to India across the
Palk Straits.
At historic Jaffna, I visited Jaffna Library and made a donation of books,
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple and an IDP camp. Coincidentally we were there on
Deepavali which was auspicious. At the IDP camp, conditions were not bad
but the separation of families must be wrenching. The Sri Lankan
Government has assured a delegation of Indian MPs which visited recently
that the IDPs would be released to their villages in batches within the
next few months after proper de-mining has been carried out. They would be
given assistance to start life afresh. But it would take time to overcome
long years of suspicion and distrust. Security continues to be taken very
serioiusly.
Trincomalee has a beautiful harbour, almost equal in size to Sydney's. It
was once a major base for the Royal Navy. Prima Flour has a huge facility
there which can mill over a million tons of wheat a year.
With the end of the war, the pressing task is national reconciliation. The
Sri Lankan Government is aware that it has also to win over the trust of
the talented and well-connected Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. President
Rajapaksa has repeatedly put emphasis on rebuilding society giving
particular emphasis to education and the learning of English. There is
much more hope now.
I could sense a strong wish for stronger relations with Singapore. With
the opening of a new chapter, we should respond positively.
Visit to Jaffna Library
Visit to IDP Camp
Visit to Prima Ceylon Flour Mill
to visit Mannar, Jaffna and Trincomalee. At Mannar, I was briefed on the
ongoing de-mining work and the repair of the irrigation system. Mannar has
a system of irrigation tanks which makes it a rice bowl. I also saw a new
bridge being constructed by the Japanese to Mannar Island which is at one
end of the string of sandbanks connecting Sri Lanka to India across the
Palk Straits.
At historic Jaffna, I visited Jaffna Library and made a donation of books,
Nallur Kandaswamy Temple and an IDP camp. Coincidentally we were there on
Deepavali which was auspicious. At the IDP camp, conditions were not bad
but the separation of families must be wrenching. The Sri Lankan
Government has assured a delegation of Indian MPs which visited recently
that the IDPs would be released to their villages in batches within the
next few months after proper de-mining has been carried out. They would be
given assistance to start life afresh. But it would take time to overcome
long years of suspicion and distrust. Security continues to be taken very
serioiusly.
Trincomalee has a beautiful harbour, almost equal in size to Sydney's. It
was once a major base for the Royal Navy. Prima Flour has a huge facility
there which can mill over a million tons of wheat a year.
With the end of the war, the pressing task is national reconciliation. The
Sri Lankan Government is aware that it has also to win over the trust of
the talented and well-connected Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. President
Rajapaksa has repeatedly put emphasis on rebuilding society giving
particular emphasis to education and the learning of English. There is
much more hope now.
I could sense a strong wish for stronger relations with Singapore. With
the opening of a new chapter, we should respond positively.
Visit to Mannar
Visit to Jaffna Library
Visit to IDP Camp
Visit to Prima Ceylon Flour Mill
Thanks BG Yeo for taking a stand at the concentration camps. The image of the women and children kept in barbed wire confinement has made an impact around the world. It is good to hear Singapore standing up for justice, peace and reconciliation.
Posted by: openid.aol.com/patski2 | October 20, 2009 at 08:04 PM