Once left abandoned and overrun with weeds, the Jaffna Special Economic Center has reopened, giving farmers a long-awaited chance to sell their produce at fair prices and escape the grip of middlemen.
The Jaffna Special Economic Center has reopened for the second time, bringing new hope to farmers and traders after years of disputes and neglect. Now relocated to Madduvil in Chavakachcheri, the center was originally built at a cost of Rs. 200 million in taxpayer funds and first inaugurated in 2022 by then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, it was abruptly closed just a day later when vendors and middlemen refused to cooperate, leaving the facility abandoned for three years with its grounds overgrown.
The reopening ceremony was recently attended by Minister of Trade and Food Security Wasantha Samarasinghe, Northern Provincial Governor N. Vethanayah, and National People’s Power MPs K. Ilankumaran, S. Sribhavanantharaja, and J. Rajeevan. Their presence highlighted the government’s renewed commitment to reviving the project and addressing long-standing grievances in the northern region.
For local farmers, the reopening represents an opportunity to bypass exploitative middlemen and sell their produce at fair prices. One farmer, recalling his disappointment at the failed first opening, expressed optimism that the center will now finally operate as intended and provide long-term benefits to the community.
The Jaffna Economic Center stands as both a reminder of wasted potential and a chance for redemption. If managed transparently and efficiently, it could become a vital hub for agricultural trade in the north, uplifting rural livelihoods and restoring faith in state-led development projects.
