News
Delft life ticking along slowly
View(s):Story and pix by Rekha Tharangani Fonseka
Life is slowly recovering on the oval-shaped Delft Island, where the tall palmyra palms and coconut trees dominate the land. Most who call it their home are engaged in fishery.
Many families left the island during the conflict. Some have returned.
About 4,500 people live on the 48.5 square kilometre island.
The Navy plays a pivotal role in ensuring the functioning of civilian lives on this historically noted island.
Here, the Navy has a role in ensuring Sri Lanka’s coastal security, including keeping a check on poaching in the seas. They keep the jetty operating, engage in some development activities, provide employment to mainly women in a sewing unit, and also operate a ‘sea ambulance’ to ferry the sick to the mainland in emergencies.
Many of the island’s ruins, buildings, and surroundings bear the legacy of European colonial history. It was once known as the “Island of Cattle” and was renamed Delft Island by the Dutch. The island was also known as “Neduntivu” according to a traditional Tamil name.
On well-known international nautical charts, the Admiralty Charts issued by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, the island is mapped as “Delft”, according to some online sources.
A unique feature is that limestone and coral have been used to build the fortress and many of the houses.
The Navy runs an apparel institute, where women are employed to stitch Navy uniforms.
Ms Baskaran Sugandhi, a seamstress said: “Today, we are carrying out our daily activities in a peaceful environment. We were also affected by the war and the lack of infrastructure on the island and the water problem. The water problem here has been solved with the intervention of the Navy.
Some women have been able to pay off debts by working in the apparel company.
Ms K Sivajini, who works as a seamstress, said: “During the war, we faced many problems and even the transport facilities stopped. Now the Navy operates a passenger ferry service.’’
Navy Commander, Vice Admiral U V M P Perera told the Sunday Times that trades on the island are few. Among them there are those involved in making dried fish or engaging in toddy-tapping. The apparel factory was started by former Navy commander Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne.
“I remember at that time those young women were sent to a factory in Boossa area for training for two weeks and only after that they started Navy apparel. Now there are 45 workers.’’
The Delft Base Hospital is part of the social infrastructure on the island. Saw-scaled viper bites are common. The only doctor in the primary hospital is the medical superintendent Taridu Nayanajith Suriyarachchi supported by nursing staff.
Patients are handed over to the Navy’s ‘sea ambulance’ service after initial treatment, to be taken to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital. More than 100 lives have been saved so far.
Fuel and drinking water supplies are also ensured by the Navy.
Among the tourist attractions of the island is the Vella region, where hundreds of wild horses roam. They are said to have been brought during the British colonial days. Some horses have been taken to the Trincomalee army camp for a breeding programme.
As for narcotics interceptions, heroin seized in 2022 amounted to 1,363.502kg. Also seized were 5731.155kg of Kerala ganja and 148.148 kg of ‘ice’.
In the four months of this year, 203.126gk of heroin, 2,123.37kg Kerala ganja, and 4.527kg of ‘ice’ have been seized.
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