Northern Province Governor and former Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Major. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, has directed Government Secretaries in the North to prioritize contactors from South in allocating tenders to all development work in the North, sources in Jaffna said. In the context of North being invaded by Southern Sinhalese businessmen and traders Governor’s directive effectively further denies all opportunities to local contractors in the development works in North, the sources added.
Sri Lanka government is not engaged in any development work in the North which is presently carried out with foreign aid.
Even the basic facilities to the resettled uprooted Tamil civilians in the North are provided with funds from international donors.
Governor’s directive will help the Southern Sinhalese contractors to exploit the above situation funneling all profits to the South, contractors in Jaffna expressed concern.
Basil Rajapakse, the brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse, nicknamed as ‘Mr. Ten Percent’ and G. A. Chandrasiri plainly prioritizing Southern Sinhalese contractors and business men creates suspicion that both are attempting to settle Sinhalese contractors and traders in the North permanently, observers in Jaffna said.
Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapakse has appointed Major. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri as the co-chairman of Jaffna District Development Committee along with Minister Douglas Devananda, they pointed out.
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