Major projects not possible in Jaffna yet - World Bank

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 June 2002, 16:58 GMT]
The World Bank said Monday that the situation in Jaffna is still not suitable for starting long term development projects in the northern peninsula. The Vice President of the Bank (South Asia Region) Mr.Mieko Nizhimisu and its Sri Lanka co-ordinator, Marianna Todorova, visited the Kopay College ofEducation, the destroyed Chavakachcheri town, and the Jaffna District Secretariat Monday. The Bishop of Jaffna, Rt. Rev. Thomas Soundranayagam, told the World Bank team when it called on him later in the day that 60 percent of the houses in the peninsula have been damaged by the war.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka army stepped up security along the Palaly Road Monday by deploying additional troops for Sri Lanka's Minister for Economic Reforms, Mr. Milinda Moragoda, who accompanied the World Bank team. He too called on the Bishop.

Mr. Moragoda, addressing those gathered at the meeting in the Bishop House said that his government is seeking foreign assistance for development programs.

The Jaffna Bishop told the World Bank officials that they should assist the re-development of education in the northeast province. He drew their attention to the fact that there is a persistent and severe shortage of schoolteachers in the province and that education has been very badly affected by the war in the Vadamaradchi and Thenmaradchi divisions of Jaffna.

The Bank team discussed education related problems with local officials at the Kopay College of Education. Education officials urged the World Bank to provide assistance to reconstruct war-damaged schools in Thenmaradchi, Pachchilaipalli and Vadamaradchi east regions of Jaffna.