Kilinochchi district...........!!!

Kilinochchi district

Fresh hopes to the civilians:

Irangika Range in Kilinochchi


living an active life. Pictures by Sudam Gunasinghe

Kilinochchi, one of the major towns in the North, that suffered immensely as a result of the war for the past 30 years. Terrorism took away its glory and also the self-respect of the people.

But today it is reawakening with a giant development drive after the elimination of ruthless terrorism by the heroic Armed Forces under the brave leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. It has given fresh hopes to the innocent civilians living in the Kilinochchi district.

Emphasizing that a balanced regional development is the key to success in countries like Sri Lanka under the “Mahinda Chinthana” policies, the rapid development of the Kilinochchi district has been given priority by the Government.

The population of the district, like the rest of the North and the East, has been heavily affected by the civil war. Almost all commercial activities came to standstill during the war.

Therefore, in the wake of recent military victories, the Government is venturing on a 180-day development program “ Wadakkin Wasanthan’ in the newly-liberated Kilinochchi district with the objective of getting civilians to return and begin a new life.

With the arrival of peace, a new era of development has dawned on Kilinochchi opening new avenues for its future under the Presidential Special Task Force for Rehabilitation and Resettlement headed by Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa.


Renovation of the G.A.’s Office in Kilinochchi district


Newly resettled people are engaged in cultivation

Accordingly, the Government with the assistance of Security Forces has accelerated the resettlement of displaced people in their native places by providing all possible facilities to restart their normal livelihoods after security clearance was assured in those areas.

The Government has taken measures to develop the potential including the rich culture, salubrious climate, and picturesque environment in the district to make it a veritable travellers paradise under the ‘Uthuru Wasanthaya” project.

Since the A9 road was opened, travellers can now reach Kilinochchi by road.

According to the Northern Province Governor Major General G.A.Chandrasiri, renovation, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities have to be commenced at grass roots level as almost all infrastructure facilities were damaged by the terrorists.

After the successful eradication of terrorism, Tamil speaking people are finally able to perform their social, economic and religious rights without any hassle.

The Government has realized the aspirations of the Kilinochchi people who had been battered by fierce terrorism for the last 30 years.

Therefore, immediate priority has been given to demining and resettlement while constructing and reconstructing schools, hospitals and developing roads and the transport sector. The Kilinochchi project is the first such attempt to get the civilians who fled from the Northern war zone back in their own area by providing them facilities to resume their sources of revenue. All necessary steps have been taken for the welfare of displaced persons expected to arrive in Kilinochchi from the relief centres.

Kilinochchi at a glance
Kilinochchi District is situated in the Northern part of the Island. It covers a land area of approximately 1237. 11 square K.m and inland water way of 44.30 square K.m. The average density of population is 146 persons per sq.k.m. The total estimated population inclusive of those displaced and accommodated in this District would have been 199,017 as at 30th June 2008. The population of the district is almost exclusively Sri Lankan Tamil.

The district was carved out of the southern part of Jaffna district in February 1984.

The District falls within Dry Zone eco-climatic division of the island. The average annual rainfall is in the region of 722 m.m. The District receives nearly 75 % of the rainfall during the North-East monsoonal period from September to December.


Kilinochchi Hospital after reconstruction


Sri Lanka Army is engaged in repairing the Kilinochchi Hindu Kovil

The remaining period of the year is dry with the driest period being June to August. The average monthly temperature ranges from’ 25’ to 30’c. Kilinochchi has red-yellow latosol (soil rich in aluminum, silica, or iron that is commonly found in tropical forests).

The District is coterminous with shared electoral boundaries of Jaffna District from Northern, Mullaitivu District from Eastern and Southern, and Mannar District from Western and Southern.

The 75% of the land in the District is under forest cover while the marginal land accounts for 60% of the total area.

The cultivatable aswedermized is in the region of 18.55%. Nearly 70 % of the cultivatable land is cultivated with paddy and 15% of the land is cultivated with subsidiary and other food crops. The balance 15% of the land is planted with perennial crops such as Coconut, Mangoes, Bananas, Palmyra and Limes etc.

The Economy
The cultivation of paddy is the major and main occupation of more than 80% of the population. An extent of 20,342 hectares was targeted during Maha 2007/2008 and the achievement acquired is 8,148 hectares.

Fisheries are the second largest occupation of the people of the District. The District has two coastal belts-one of 28 miles in the East and another of 52 miles in the West. The fishermen are engaged in deep-sea fishing and Karavalai fishing. The District has 30 fishing villages with great potentials for exploitation in the seas. Fresh-water fishing is resorted to in Iranamadhu Tank,

Akkarayan Tank, Vannerikulam Tank, and Kariyalainagapaduvan Tank. The literacy rate among adults of both sexes is 86.8 %. However the literacy rate among the males is higher than that of females as 87.7% and 83.4% respectively.

A student population of 37,419 attends 101 schools in the District. There are 1,340 teachers. The Technical Institute at Kilinochchi provides technological education elementarily.

The District is divided into 4 Administrative Divisions (Divisional Secretariat Divisions) These are Karachchi, Kandawalai, Poonakary and Pachchilaipallai consisting in total 95 Grama Officers Divisions.

The History
This district occupies the land that constituted the pre-colonial Jaffna kingdom. Tamils continued to be the inhabitants of this region from pre-historical time.

The indigenous Veddhas are physically related to Dravidian-speaking tribal people in South India and early populations of Southeast Asia. They no longer speak their native languages. It is believed that cultural diffusion, rather than migration of people, spread the Prakrit and Tamil languages from peninsula India into an existing Mesolithic population, centuries before the common era. Settlements of people culturally similar to those of present-day Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu in modern India were excavated at megalithic burial sites at Pomparippu on the west coast and in Kathiraveli on the east coast of the island. These villages were established between the 5th century BCE and 2nd century CE.

Cultural similarities in burial practices in South India and Sri Lanka were dated by archaeologists to 10th century BCE. However, Indian history and archeology have pushed the date back to 15th century BCE. In Sri Lanka, there is radiometric evidence from Anuradhapura that the non-Brahmi symbol-bearing black and red were occur in the 10th century BCE. The first settlers were Nagas and Yakshas. It was the largest and most important port in the Indian Ocean. Traders from East Asia and Mediterranean were regular visitors to this great port.

Development Drive

Northern Province Major General G.A Chandrasiri with newly resettled people in Kilinochchi

A speedy massive development need has been emphasized in the Killinochchi district under the “Uhuru Wasanthaya” program to develop the area which had neglected for last 30 years due to the war.

Accordingly, the Government has allocated Rs.462 million for the development activities in last year. Fifteen schools in Puthumuippu, Kanagapuram, Jeyanthinagar, Kili Town, Mulankavil, Nachchikuda, Iranaimathanagar, Jeyapuram South and Nallur are reconstructing at a cost of Rs.68 million.

Meanwhile, fourteen co-operative outlet- buildings in Kanagapuram, Puthumurippu, Uruthirapuram East, Jeyanthynagar, Krishnapuram, Kanagapuram, Mulankavil, Nachikuda, Jeyapuram, Veravil, Kitanchchi, and Jayapuram North are being constructed at a cost of Rs.20 million.

Seven irrigation projects including reconstruction of Irrigation quarters, repairing sluice of Iranamadu tank, improvement of main canal of Iranamadu tank, urgent works in Puthumurippu tank and Akkarayan tank in Karachchi division are undertaken at a cost of Rs.25 million.

Under the social welfare activities, Sri Paramanathavalli Ashramam in Jeyanthinagar has reconstructed at a cost of Rs.5 million.

As a health sector developments, rural health centers, gramodaya health centers, base hospitals, divisional hospitals, district general hospitals in Puthumuripu, Nachchikuda, Muripu, Sivanagar, Mulankavil, Uruthiapuram, Vannerikulam, Akkarayan, Jeyapuram, Veravil, Aanaivilunthan and Kili town are being renovated at a cost of Rs.59 million.

A sum of Rs.30 million has been allocated to rehabilitate office building, stores, and office quarters, hostels, constructing water huts, open wells and tube wells in Kanakampikai Kulam under the agricultural development at a cost of Rs.30 million.

Eight tanks in Kanakapuram, Ambal Kulam, Ponnaveli, Kiranchi, Krishnapuram, Skanthapuram and Uruthiapuram are renovated while reconstructions of head offices, buildings, quarters and fertilizer stores are under way in Kili town, Uruthirapuram at a cost of Rs.23 million.

Among the road constructions and repairs projects, roads of Puthumuripu, Akkarankulam, Rose, Taylor, Wilson, Murukandy-Akkarayankulam-Vannerikulam, Puthumurippu-Konavil, Elephantpass-Thadduwankoddi, Chempankundu Palavi- Kiranchi. Pirapankirai-Kalmunai-Pallavarayankaddu, Veravil-Valaipadu, Chettiyankururichchy, Nachchikuda and Iranamadu access road are being repaired at a cost of Rs.75 million.

Meanwhile, market building in Uruthirapuram and Ayurvedic Hospital Building in Uruthirapuram are constructed at a cost of Rs.3 million.

In addition, 38 roads in Karachchi division at a cost of Rs.14 million, 32 roads in Poonakary division at a cost of Rs.23 million 73 roads in newly resettled areas of Poonakari are being reconstructed at a cost of Rs.20 million.

Forty four roads in Thampakamam, Tharmakery, Iyakkachchi, Masar, Puloppallai, Pallai town, Kovilvayal, Allippalai, Soranpattu and Kovilvayal of Pachchilaipalli division at a cost of Rs.12 million are constructed.

A money allocation of Rs.80 million has released to improve the district and divisional administrations in Poonakary,Kilinochchi and Karachchi areas. Nineteen electricity schemes in Kili town, Murukandi, Thondamannagar, Iranaimadu, Vadiyadi, Paranthan, Pallai town, Puthumuripu, Kanagapuram, Kirushna -puram,Mulankavil, Nachchikuda, Uruhirapuram East and Jeyanthinagar are being constructed at a cost of Rs.174 million.

Among the large scale development projects, Iranamadu tank renovations, Killinochichi Hindu college, Kanagapuram MV, Veravil, Mulankavil, Akkarayan and Killinochchi hospitals renovation projects, , electricity scheme in Kilinochchi have undertaken by the Government to facilitate the people.

Resettlment process
The Presidential Special Task Force on Rehabilitation and Resettlement has taken measures under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” program to resettle 17,396 members of 5,167 families in the Poonakary and Karachchi divisions. Plans are afoot to resettle 10,994 families consisting 44,193 members once after the demining process was completed.

The de-mining process has been accelerated in Kandawalai, Akkarayankulam, Skandapuram and Vannerikulam in the Killinochchi by Sri Lanka Army to resettle the IDPs.

In addition, the Government conducts the Mine Risk Education (MRE) to make aware the newly resettled people on precautionary steps of land mines.

The Government has already provided 4000 bicycles and 450 boats for the uplift of living standards of resettlers.

At the moment, 40,300 and 19,900 tin sheets have provided respectively to newly resettled families in Poonakary and Karachchi while the cash payment amounting Rs.5,000 were provided to 3,358 members in Poonakary and 1,618 members in Karachchi areas.

Meanwhile, 50 water tanks, 2,212 tent sets, 5 tractors, 3,162 tarpaulin, 1,314 boxes non food relive items, 2,900 box agriculture implement items, 28 water tanks, dry rations and 157 home gardening kits have already been provided to resettled people in Poonakary division with the assistance of the NGOs and INGOs..

Forty water tanks, 2 tractors, 1,500 tarpaulin, 1,304 boxes non food relive items, 3,300 box agriculture implement items, 12 water tanks and issuing dry ration were provided to resettled families in Karachchi division.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army has been constructed 849 houses in Kiranchi , Veravil and Jeyapuram for the newly resettled people.

Measures have also been taken to cultivate 2000 acres of abandoned paddy lands using the water of Iranamadu tank by the newly resettled people in Poonakary and Karachchi divisions.


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Development in the Railway sector
Category Number Number

of Seats of Carriages


3rd Class Carriages 52 96

2nd Class Carriages 16 66

3rd Class TV 15 50

2nd Class

Reserved Carriages 8 50

3rd Class Buffet Unit 6 50

Observation Saloon 3 50

Total Investment will be Rs. 154,445 Million, Government plans to develop the railway transport parallel to the Road transport system. This includes new railway lines. Purchase of 100 Carriages – 2007

Cost Rs 3,720 Million
100 Railway Passengers were purchased under the following categories:

Purchase of Fifteen Diesel Multiple Unit - Year 2008 Cost Rs. 5,225 Million


Train services to be upgraded

In order to improve urban passenger transport services, 15 Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) will be purchased. One DMU includes:

one power car, 4 carriages, and one dummy driving car.

About 1,500 passengers can travel in one DMU.

These DMUs can travel at an average speed of 50 km per hour. With the track improvements, speed could be increased up to 100 km per hour.

Upgrading of Colombo-Matara Railway Line - Year 2012 Cost Rs 19,000 Million The project will be implemented in two stages

*Stage 1 : During the First Stage, the existing railway line will be strengthened by adding new rails and sleepers.

Also, during this stage, selected Railway Stations such as Panadura, Kalutara, Galle and Matara will be developed.

* Stage 2: A dual railway line will also be constructed from Kalutara South to Matara.

Matara-Kataragama Railway Line Extension (Stage 1 & 2) - Year 2014 Cost Rs.30,000 Million

It is expected to construct this new railway line in two stages.

* The first stage of the project is 27 km from Matara to Beliatta, and

* The second stage is 83 km from Beliatta to Kataragama Kurunegala/Dambulla/Habarana New Railway Line Development – Year 2012 Cost Rs,24,000 Million This is a 80 km long new railway line.

It connects the Dambulla Special Economic Centre with the existing railway line at Kurunegala.

The main components of the project are railway line, railway stations, signalling and communication system. Eastern Railway Line Rehabilitation - Year 2012 Cost Rs. 4,500 Million.

It is planned to improve 281 km railway line in the Eastern Province with new sleepers.

In addition, the existing signaling system which is more than 100 years old will be replaced and railway stations will be rehabilitated.

Development and Extension of Kelani Valley Railway Line up to Hambantota via Ratnapura and Embilipitiya – Year 2012

Cost Rs.37,500 Million The project consists of:

* Development of the existing Kelani Valley railway line up to Awissawela, and

* Construction of a new 152 km railway line from Awissawela to Hambantota.

Light Rapid Transit (LRT) System – Year 2015 Cost Rs. 30,500 Million

This project will introduce a Light Rail Rapid Transit System for Colombo Metropolitan Area. The first stage of the LRT system will be the construction of a 26 km route from Ratmalana to Battaramulla via Colombo Fort. This is a popular fast mode of transport in many cities in the World.

Development.lk


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Vast improvement in fisheries sector

The fishery industry was severely affected by the Tsunami.10 fishery harbours destroyed by Tsunami were renovated. These include Kirinda, Tangalle, Kudawella, Puranawella, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Beruwela, Panadura and Kodikamam fishery harbours.

Steps were taken to provide 186 multi-day fishing boats and 108 one day boats.

Fishery Harbours and Jetties

The fishery harbours of Hambantota, Ambalangoda and Chilaw are being renovated with all modern facilities. The largest fishery harbour is under construction.

Foreign Assistance
Deepening of fishery harbours under assistance from the United States, deepening of Dodanduwa and Negombo fishery harbours under 3 million Euro assistance and Kirinda fishery harbour at a cost of Rs. 10 million is underway. Jetties are being constructed in Panadura and Kirinda with Rs.300 million assistance from China.

Peliyagoda Fishery Sales Complex

A new Fishery Sales Complex at a cost of Rs. 1500 million is being constructed at Peliyagoda.

Foreign Exchange Earnings
A record earning of U.S.$ 190 million have been received from the export of prawns and other sea food. A special laboratory was established to research on prawn infections.

Steps were taken to expand our sea zone. Necessary steps have been taken identify fish varieties by using satellite technology.

Steps have been taken to boost welfare facilities to fishing community through Fisheries Cooperative Societies. Following the liberation of Northern and Eastern Provinces, steps have been taken to improve fishing activities in these areas at a cost of Rs. 1500 million under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” program.

This includes provision of ice plants, fishery sales outlets, fishing boats and fishing nets.

- Development.lk