The private sector has played a major role towards the development of the Northern Province by bringing in investments and creating jobs for youth and in recent times has provided over 24,000 jobs, said District Secretary of Jaffna, S .M. Saman Banulasena at the Jaffna Managers Forum in Thennai Hotel recently.
The District Secretary said the Government’s allocation for the projects envisaged was inadequate. “The Government cannot manage its affairs without the support of the Private Sector.”
He called upon everyone to do whatever is possible within their capacity to boost the income of the country.
He reiterated that development activities in the region should be extended and enhanced in order to make a higher contribution to the GDP of the region.
He took the opportunity to request the Jaffna Managers’ Forum to precisely propose the areas in which further development projects could be initiated.
However, the public sector, the private sector and the NGOs could collaborate and coordinate plans and implement them with the assistance of the government. He asserted that getting the help of every citizen is of paramount importance at a time of unprecedented economic challenge.
The District Secretary has formally requested the Jaffna Managers’ Forum to submit their ideas in the form of a proposal so that they could be incorporated in the Provincial Development Program for the fiscal year of 2024.)
Emeritus Professor M. Balasundarampillai recalled how the state corporations collapsed in the late 1960’s and the urgent need for private sector collaboration in the sustainable development of our region.
He said that the price of vegetables have skyrocketed as a consequence of total neglect of agriculture.
He said wealth could be created by focusing on intensive agricultural activities and through the development of SME. He was confident that it would help in the generation of employment for youth. Furthermore, he suggested that more and more women should be empowered and included in the SME sector.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the people of the Northern Province and either directly or indirectly, nearly 50% of the province’s population is dependent on it for their livelihood. “More than 40% of the arable land resources of NP are devoted to agricultural operations.”
It was also pointed out that Jaffna lacks the infrastructure required to attract foreign tourists. “Tourism can be an immense source of income and can contribute to our better share of the GDP.” – SS
