Sri Lanka's President urged to ensure security to Kinniya Muslims

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 December 2003, 16:32 GMT]
A delegation of the North East Muslim Parliamentarians' Forum (NEMPF) Tuesday afternoon met with Sri Lanka’s President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge, and discussed in detail the deteriorating security situation in the Trincomalee district, especially the Kinniya division. The delegation urged the President to take immediate steps to bring the situation under control and to help the Muslims there from being killed and wounded, sources said.

Parliamentarians of the NEMPF Tuesday morning met at the parliamentary complex with Deputy Minister Mr. Noordeen Mashoor in the chair and reviewed the security situation in Kinniya and the sufferings of Muslim families due to violence. At that meeting they decided to make representation to the President, sources said.

Thereafter the NEMPF delegation met the President Tuesday afternoon around 2 p.m. and concluded the meeting at about 4.30 p.m., sources said.

The NEMPF delegation brought to the notice of the President that eight Muslims had been killed and about 15 had been injured in recent violence in the Kinniya division. The delegation further brought to the notice of the President that around 5000 families had been displaced and sought refuge elsewhere. Of the refugees, about 3500 are from the Muslim community and the rest are Tamils.

The delegation appealed to the President to strengthen the security in Trincomalee town and Kinniya division by deploying more security personnel, sources said.

The President promptly instructed the Defense Ministry Secretary, Mr. Cyril Herath, Interior Ministry Secretary Mr.M.N.A.Junaid and the acting Inspector General of Police Mr.Indra de Silva to take immediate steps to provide security to all communities in the Trincomalee district, the sources said.