President Chief Guest at Jaffna National Thaipongal Festival

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be the Chief Guest at the National Thaipongal Festival to be held in Jaffna on 17 January.

On Sunday, the President would commission the 288 meter long two-way Sangupitty Bridge as a Thaipongal gift to the people of Jaffna.  

This bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs. 800 million on the A32 Highway, will connect Karaitivu with Pooneryn and reduce the travel time from Colombo to Jaffna by about three hours.

The Government constructed the bridge on a loan obtained from the United Kingdom, with a view to provide better transport facilities to the people of Jaffna and to normalise life in the Jaffna peninsula.  

The bridge was constructed by Sri Lankan engineers ahead of schedule.

On Monday, while participating as the Chief Guest at the National Thaipongal Festival, the President is scheduled to address a mass rally at the Duraiappah Stadium. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend this function, where the President is to present sets of vertis, the traditional costumes of the Jaffna people, to 100 Hindu priests, 100 artistes and several farmers from Jaffna.

During the visit the President is also scheduled to handover laptop computers to the students of the Jaffna University.  On the 17th evening, there will be a mega musical show with the participation of artistes, musicians and popular singers of Sri Lanka and from the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu.

Several ministers, Parliamentarians and political leaders from the Northern Province are scheduled to participate in the functions.