Jaffna Mayoress P.Yogeshwary said that she hoped the govt would work towards ending the miserable life, people of Jaffna have had for several years!!!

Jaffna Mayoress calls for private - public sector investment
by Zacki Jabbar in Jaffna

A modern Convention Centre will be established at Arali in Jaffna in two years time, General Manager of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Vipula Wanigasekera said yesterday.

Speaking to The Island at Jaffna Central College, the venue for the inaugural Jaffna International Trade Fair, he said the land acquisition process was underway and all formalities would be cleared shortly to commence construction of the sophisticated convention centre.

"When Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services proposed to the SLCB and Tourism Ministry, that the Jaffna International Trade Fair be held, we thought it would not be possible so soon after the war had ended. But, thanks to a lot of hard work that had been done, the event is being staged on schedule."

Wanigasekera said that war ravaged Jaffna needed modern infrastructure facilities to meet the demands of economic expansion and the Arali Convention Centre once completed, would be a big boost for the region.

The SLCB and Tourism Ministry will continue to support exhibitions of this nature. India was a primary market for tourism and we are glad to see Indian private sector participation in JITF. The assistance being provided by the Indian government for the development of Jaffna was also greatly appreciated, he said.

Jaffna Mayoress Yogeshwary Patgunaraja said that she hoped the government would work towards ending the miserable life the people of Jaffna have had to endure for several decades.

"We remember the days when commerce and trade flourished in Jaffna. Institutions such as the KKS Cement Factory and Paranthan Chemicals, were able to provide employment to the youth."

She appealed to both the government and private sector to help Jaffna and its unemployed youth, by investing in employment generating ventures.

The Jaffna International Trade Fair was jointly organised by Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services, the Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Yarlpanam and Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka.



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