Sri Lankan minister cannot be arrested, Indian court told

Douglas Devananda, Sri Lankan Minister of Traditional Industries & Small Enterprise Development, cannot be arrested in India as he has diplomatic immunity, India's External Affairs Ministry told the Madras High Court in Chennai on Tuesday.

Devananda, the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), was declared as an absconding accused in connection with a 1986 murder case in Chennai.

From the Tamil Press

Social Service and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda met the people who were resettled in the Nallur Divisional Secretariat area. He inquired about problems they faced after resettlement. He said they would be given Rs. 50,000 and dry rations for another six months.

WB, UN help

Kilinochchi Government Agent Rupavathi Ketheeswaran said that the World Bank and the United Nations helped to improve the living standards of the resettled. A 50-day plan is being implemented to clear the cultivable land. Each of them involved in this effort is paid Rs.500 per day by the World Bank. Farmers were also given financial assistance to purchase agricultural equipment.

Chief Justice Asoka N. de Silva laid the foundation stone for the construction of a High Court in Mannar. He had also opened the upstair building at the premises of the court. This building constructed at a cost of Rs. seven million consists of library, rest room and canteen for attorneys.

Hospitals taken over
Deputy Health Minister Vadivel Suresh said 35 estate hospitals were taken over by the Government. The Cabinet had granted approval to take over another 20 hospitals next year. He said the plantation community should not forget that the lives of the workers had been considerably improved under President Mahinda Rajapaksa's administration. He said medical equipment and drugs to estate hospitals would be handed over on January 8.

The Kalmunai-Jaffna bus service is to begin on January 1. There were no bus service between the two cities for the past 28 years. Kalmunai CTB Depot Manager said that a luxury bus service would also commence. Meanwhile, the bus service between Batticaloa and Jaffna has already begun after 30 years.

Eastern Province Education Ministry has also taken steps to reconstruct 140 schools that were closed in the past.

New schools
Sixty-eight schools have been reconstructed and would be opened soon. Meanwhile, steps are being taken to open more schools in the province. There are 1,015 schools in the East. 98 schools were damaged during the tsunami.

Twenty-five water pumps have been donated to improve the livelihood of 25 IDP families in Jaffna.

Courtesy: Thinakaran, Virakesari, Thinakkural and Sudar Oli

Seminar for Tamil diaspora

Social Services and Rehabilitation Minister Douglas Devananda has invited Tamil professionals in the diaspora to participate in the rehabilitation of theNorthern Province.

A seminar will be held at the Jaffna University on January 12, 2010 for the Tamils of the diaspora to meet and formulate programs for development.

Minister Devananda said the time has come for the talented Tamils to return and help rebuild the Northern Province that has been badly affected by a war.

He added: "Tamil aspirations need to be fulfilled at various levels. It is not confined to politics alone."

Doctors, engineers and other professionals who left the country in large numbers during the war have now the opportunity to return home in peace and work for their well-being.

"The Tamil diaspora have much to contribute. We are opening the doors for them to come in. They should not miss this opportunity," he said.

The seminar will provide an opportunity for the participants to discuss their proposals that could pave the way for joining the development program of the Ministry of Social Services and Rehabilitation. Those who want to attend the seminar could contact the Minister's Office on 94 212229824.