 Back
to life
Sri Lanka's northern capital of Jaffna conjures
up various visions to various people.
In the mid-1980s, Tiger guerrillas held sway running a civil administration
of sorts. Paradoxically, the funding for it came from the Government in
Colombo which wanted to demonstrate its writ ran in the peninsula. Supplies
and salaries for medical services, schools and many other State institutions
were channelled regularly.
The guerrillas monitored how the State institutions worked. They imposed
their own taxes on consumer goods. Some of them like soap, joss sticks,
brooms, coir mats and similar items were manufactured at guerrilla-run
factories. They bore the brand names of Tiger guerrilla cadres who died
in action. They had their own "Police force" and "judiciary."
Only a brief interlude of nearly three years during the presence of Indian
Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) interrupted that "parallel administration."
 In
1995, "Operation Riviresa," which led to the re-capture of the
Jaffna peninsula put paid to the LTTE's rule.
Their "administration" was dismantled and they were driven out
of the peninsula to the Wanni jungles. The regular burst of gunfire and
explosion of bombs ceased.
 Normalcy
began to return to the Jaffna peninsula and the Government's writ was running
effectively. Motor vehicles in the area which were not licensed for years
are now being licensed. The public are paying taxes and life is as normal
as in any other part of Sri Lanka.
Of course, a rise in Tiger guerrilla infiltration has begun to worry
security forces. They have strengthened security measures but sporadic
incidents do occur every now and then. Yet, life goes on at a normal pace.
More Plus
Plus Archive
Front Page| News/Comment|
Editorial/Opinion| Business|
Sports | Mirror Magazine
|
