The Prime Minister mentioned this while attending the ceremony held at the Jaffna Library Auditorium on 12.07.2024 to award permanent appointments to the employees of the Local Government Institutions in the Northern Province.
At this occasion, books were also donated to the Jaffna library.
The Prime Minister commented at the event saying that -
"We faced an unprecedented economic and financial crisis in our lifetime. The President and I, faced the task and challenge of overcoming the financial crisis. The fact that many public representatives took the initiative to bring the political stability needed to move the country forward was a great strength in resolving this crisis.
Workers of Jaffa know the difficulties we faced at that time. They helped us in overcoming that step by step.
Due to the support received from the people of the country to overcome the economic challenge in the last 24 months, this trust has been established internationally and positive growth has been achieved.
We have to but obey certain framework in order to achieve more.
The last few days, there was a little calamity in our parts of the country, But Jaffna people, I thank the governors, I thank the local authorities and teachers and everyone for going to their duty that they have accepted their duties and working and keeping the society moving forward as usual.
We also have, when we accept an appointment, a responsibility. We also have a duty. These two things that we must know, we must ask for our rights. It is one. But peacefully, we are able to negotiate our rights.
I recall my father and Dr. N. M. Parela, who are also very closely associated with Devananda’s father at that time, in the famous 1947 General Strike, when his father was at the General Strike for public service. They were jailed by the British. So, my father, Dr. N.M. Perera, three of them escaped the prisons. They escaped jail from the British and they came to various areas and Jaffna. So, I must mention, how they used to associate the leaders of Jaffna at that time and to protect and build the rights of the educational system with the cooperation of their friends who later became ministers and members of parliament.”
Minister of Fisheries Douglas Devananda, Governor P.S.M. Charles, Members of Parliament Angajan Ramanathan, Yadamini Gunawardena, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Pradeep Yasaratne, Northern Provincial Council Chief Secretary and officials and appointees participated in this event.
(Photo - The Prime Minister in a chat with children at the Jaffna Library, State Minister Douglas Devananda, Deputy Chairman of Committees of Parliament Angajan Ramanathan are also present.)
Prime Minister’s Media