Japanese Development team arrives in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 March 2003, 02:30 GMT]
A nine-member delegation of the Infrastructure Development Institute of Japan (IDI) Saturday held talks with civil officials in Jaffna regarding proposed development of roads, water supply, sanitation and flood control in the peninsula, said Jaffna district secretariat sources. The IDI team is on a fact-finding mission in the northeastern province from February 26 till March 6.

The delegation attended a conference held at Jaffna district secretariat Saturday presided by the acting Government Agent Ms Paththiniammal Thilaganayagam Paul. Local heads of government and provincial departments also participated in the conference, said sources.

Several matters were discussed at the conference including the possibility of diverting water from Iranaimadu tank in Killinochchi district to Jaffna peninsula for farming, sources said. The IDI team in this regard submitted the suggestion but Jaffna officials agreed to discuss this proposal with Killinochchi officials before providing a proper response, sources said.

The development of the Kankesanthurai harbour and the railway service to Jaffna and the importance of raising these matters at the national level were also discussed at the conference, said district secretariat sources.

The IDI team then left to Killinochchi through A9 highway, sources said.

IDI is an organization that comes under the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.