A 16-member all-party delegation comprising parliamentarians and political representatives departed for Jaffna on a two-day study tour and received a warm welcome at the Jaffna Cultural Centre on Friday evening, Sri Lanka Latest News reported.
The delegation includes MPs Prasad Siriwardena, Chamindrani Kiriella, and Chitral Fernando.
The visit was organized by the Coalition for Inclusive Impact (CII) at the request of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK). Its objective is to strengthen all-party dialogue and cooperation on reconciliation, land tenure, accountability, and economic inclusion in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.
During the tour, the delegation will participate in political discussions, stakeholder meetings, and field visits aimed at promoting inclusive governance and collaborative partnerships.
Although the government had invited MPs from certain parties, they did not take part in the visit. According to our investigation, NPP Secretary MP Nihal Abeysinghe and JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva were informed about including NPP MPs in the tour, but no response was received.
On Saturday, the delegation held formal discussions with the Mayor of Jaffna, provincial representatives, and local government officials on key issues related to local governance, devolution of power, access to public services, police oversight, regional connectivity, and human rights.
Four ITAK MPs, including Shanakiyan Rasamanickam and ITAK Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran, along with heads of the ITAK Local Government Institute, were also in attendance.
The delegation subsequently travelled by train from Jaffna to Kankesanthurai (KKS) to evaluate transport infrastructure and connectivity in the region.
At KKS Port, officials briefed the group on ongoing ferry operations between India and Sri Lanka, development initiatives funded by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), and a major port development programme supported through a grant from the Government of India.
The group also visited Palaly International Airport, where aviation officials provided an update on airport operations since it was designated an international airport in 2019. The airport currently operates daily flights to Chennai and Tiruchirappalli, having served approximately 121,000 passengers across 3,600 flights. However, officials noted that its regional expansion potential remains limited due to existing infrastructure constraints.
TNA MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam stated that the study tour forms part of ongoing efforts to promote inclusive national dialogue and enhance cooperation among political stakeholders and communities in the Northern Province.
