SLA to construct permanent base in demolished Koappaay Tiger Heroes’ Resting Home site

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 July 2010, 16:27 GMT]
Jaffna Sri Lanka Army (SLA) high command has requested Sri Lanka Electricity Board Jaffna to supply electricity to the site where Tiger Heroes’ Resting Home had stood in Koappaay before being obliterated by SLA recently as it intends to construct a big permanent base for its 512 Division, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, SLA, constructing several bases in Jaffna in haste, forces the uprooted civilians living in the area around the above site to evacuate their dwellings, the affected civilians complain.

Hundreds of uprooted families from Vanni and Valikaamam North had settled in the area in Koappaay where SLA now wants to construct a building complex for its 512 Division with the intention of occupying the area permanently, the sources added.

SLA says that the presence of the uprooted civilians in the area near their base is unsafe for its personnel, according to the uprooted civilians.

The affected civilians further complained that no politician so far had come forward to solve their problems including the SLA orders to evacuate their dwellings.

Koappaay Raasa Veethi, the main thoroughfare in the area that is to be occupied by SLA, faces the risk of being closed for public use.

SLA is actively engaged in setting up permanent bases in Jaffna with the intention of reducing the number SLA personnel occupying Jaffna town area.