2ND LEAD (Update)

Victor Perera vows to establish civil administration in North

[TamilNet, Saturday, 09 August 2008, 18:55 GMT]
Victor Perera, the former Sri Lankan Inspector General of Police (IGP), who has been appointed as the Governor of the de-merged Northern Province by the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Saturday assumed duties at the Northern Provincial Secretariat located at Varoathaya Nakar in Kanniyaa, 3 km from Trincomalee of the Eastern Province. Mr. Perera said he would take steps to establish civil administration in the 'liberated areas' in the North and launch development projects there. Both the secretariats of Northern Province and Eastern Province are now functioning from Trincomalee.

Sri Lankan Minister of Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Abdul Risath Bathiyutheen was present at the occasion.

Victor Perera was received by the Northern Province Chief Secretary S. Rangarajah and the provincial ministry secretaries.

Victor Perera said he would take steps to establish civil administration in the liberated areas in the Northern Province and launch several development projects such as constructing roads, bridges, hospitals and schools in the region.

The present Inspector General of Police has also been taking steps to open more police stations in such areas in the north, he observed.

Varoathaya Nakar, a suburb about three km off northwest of east port town along Trincomalee –Anuradhapura highway, was named after late Mr.N.R.Rajavarothiam, parliamentarian of the Trincomalee electorate since 1952 till his demise in 1963. Mr.Rajavarothiam won in the ticket of Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK). ITAK was formed by late Tamil leader 'Thanthai" S.J.V.Chelvanayakam in 1949 when he quit from the All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) led by late Tamil leader Mr.G.G.Ponnambalam over the question of ACTC supporting the bill disfranchising plantation Tamil workers.

The ITAK first contested in seven electorates in the North and East separately in 1952 general election. The ITAK won two seats- Koappaay electorate in Jaffna district and Trincomalee electorate in Trincomalee district. But the first victory for ITAK came from Trincomalee electorate. The result of the Koappaay electorate was announced on the next day. Late leader Mr.C.Vanniyasingham was elected from Koappaay and Mr.Rajavarothiam was elected from Trincomalee electorate.

Chronology: