SL occupation of hospitals, schools harm resettlement in Vanni - TNA MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 April 2011, 12:20 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from Vanni, S. Sritharan, has blamed the occupying Sri Lanka Army in Vanni for continuing to occupy public buildings, including primary hospitals and schools, causing severe hardships to resettling civilians. The accusation by the TNA MP comes following District Development Committee (DDC) meeting held in Jaffna on Tuesday, when Medical Officers brought to the notice of the DDC that if the Poonakari primary hospital, now occupied by the Sri Lanka Army, is handed over to them, they would resume services to the resettled civilians.

Mr. Sritharan took strong objection to number of schools and hospitals in Vanni being occupied by the Army whilst the Colombo government boasted to the International community that they were ‘developing’ the North.

Paramilitary leader and coalition partner of the government, Douglas Devananda presided the DDC meeting held Tuesday, April, 19th in the absence of the SL colonial governor, Major General Chandrasiri, who was away in Australia.

Along with Sritharan, TNA Parliamentarians Vinayagamoorthy, Saravanapavan, UNP MP Vijayakala Maheswaran, SL Navy and Army Officers and the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, participated in the DDC meeting.

TNA MP Sritharan complained that the health services provided to Vanni people were minimal, no doctors have been appointed to Vaddakkachchi hospital, there were no ambulances and because of this many patients suffering snake bites have died without timely treatment.

None knew as to who administered the Ki'linochchi Seed paddy centre. Lands coming under the Provincial council have been handed over to the Sri Lankan Central government departments under the pretext that the buildings were used by LTTE previously.

The occupying SL Army was only interested in getting favourable comments without doing anything beneficial to the people, the MP further alleged.