The rulers now say that they will reconstruct the northern railway line from Vavuniya to Kankesanthurai and public donations are also sought in this purpose. Now, almost all the TV channels telecast an advertisement stating that a fund had been launched to raise funds from people to rebuild the northern railway line to Jaffna and to repair 27 railway stations.
On 9th of January 1985, Tamil rebels fighting for the right of self-determination bombed Yal Devi killing 11 civilians. Northern railway line dilapidated due to decades old war and needs complete reconstruction to ply the famous 'Yal Devi' train to Jaffna beyond Thandikulam where the journey ends now.
However, railway lines as well as many other things are needed to restore the romantic, peaceful and joyful ride from Colombo to Jaffna. The rulers that now focus their attention to reconstruct the railway line must also understand the need for integrating the Tamils that dominate the Northern Province to the state of Sri Lanka formed in unitary style by British colonials. After militarily defeating the Tamils' violent fight for rights, the government shuns political dialogues on the ethnic problem and invests lavishly on reconstruction of the economic infrastructure. It appears expecting to militarily eradicate the Tamils' struggle for national rights, a strategy that has not thrived so far anywhere in the world in modern times even through genocides.It is yet to see if the government can succeed in economic development alone in the sense of wiping out the ethnic differences.
