Dutch asked to delay funding KKS harbour development

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 September 2004, 01:25 GMT]
Jaffna Government Agent, S.Pathmanathan, told an official of the Dutch Government visiting Jaffna Thursday, to delay funding development of the Kankesanthurai harbour until permanent peace prevails in the district, local daily Uthayan reported. The Government of Netherland has earlier allocated funds towards renovation of the harbor and the visit of the official was to collect additional information related to harbour development.

The meeting between the Dutch official and the GA took place at the Jaffna District secretariat. Harbour officials and Commanders of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLAN) also participated in the meeting according to the report.

The GA further told the Dutch official that any improvement work on the KKS harbour during this period of uncertainty will be viewed with suspicion by the residents of Jaffna, the report said.

"The harbour was constructed in KKS to facilitate development and to aid modernization of the KKS cement factory. The factory has not been functioning for the last several years. People of Jaffna will not benefit by the expansion and renovation of the harbour.

"It will be prudent for the Government of Netherland to postpone aiding developing the harbour until there is permanent peace," Mr.Pathmanathan told the official, the paper said.