Linga Nagar residents under pressure to vacate

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 November 1998, 05:12 GMT]
The newly appointed commander of the Trincomalee security forces, Major General G.S.C. Fonseka has ordered the Trinco district Secretary V. Velummylum to offer alternate land to 132 families who claim ownership of land in Linga Nagar and to give control of the vacated land to the security forces.

In a letter dated November 16th, the Major had asked the Secretary to inform the residents that the land is required by the army to ensure the security of the armed forces.

He had also requested the Secretary to submit to him the cost of the permanent structures in the associated land in Linga Nagar and a detailed map of the area.

Meanwhile sources say that posters have appeared that demanded the residents of the disputed land to vacate immediately.

The actions of the new Major General has made the efforts taken by Tamil MPs with the President to stop the eviction of Tamil residents from the disputed land in Linga Nagar a total failure, sources said.