Resettling IDPs in SLA HSZ in Valikaamam to be explored

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 July 2008, 14:26 GMT]
A committee presided by Jaffna High Court Judge R. T. Vignarajah is to explore the possibility and ways of resettling Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the High Security Zones (HSZ) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in Valikaamam north area in Jaffna peninsula, next week, legal sources in Jaffna said. Colombo Supreme Court had appointed the above committee after inquiring into the Fundamental Rights Violation petition filed by the IDPs seeking permission to resettle in their villages in Valikaamam north and to engage in their livelihoods.

The other members of the committee appointed by the Supreme Court are Jaffna Government Agent, K. Ganesh, Jaffna SLA Commander, Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, Rear Admiral T. Samarasinghe, Commander Northern naval area and Jaffna Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara.

Supreme Court had ordered Thursday Jaffna High Court to take steps to consider resettlement of the IDPs of Valikaamam in their villages.

The above committee has decided to conduct a special conference next week to explore the possibility and ways of resettlement.

The basic steps to resettle the IDPs will be explored in this meeting and the next steps to be taken will be conveyed to Colombo Supreme Court, the sources added.