Resettlement in Valikaamam North HSZ not possible – Jaffna SLA Commander

[TamilNet, Monday, 04 October 2010, 07:12 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Commander, Major Gen. Mahinda Kathurusinghe, who had earlier admitted the possibility of resettling uprooted families in Valikaamam North SLA High Security Zone, however, said that resettlement is not possible due to the danger of landmines. He told the representatives of the Committee for Peace and Goodwill so in a meeting held in Jaffna Bishop House Sunday, presided by Bishop Rt. Rev. Thomas Saundaranayagam. Meanwhile, the Coordinating Committee for De-mining in Jaffna Secretariat said that SLA had not permitted de-mining in its HSZ in Valikaamam North. Mahinda Kathursinghe’s announcement has caused shock and despair among the families uprooted by SLA from their properties in Valikaamam North, sources in Jaffna said.

Prof. Pon Balasundarampillai, former VC of Jaffna University and S. Paramanathan representing the Welfare Association for Uprooted Persons were among the participants in the meeting.

Meanwhile, responding to questions raised as to why only Sinhala pilgrims are permitted to use Tho’ndaimaanaa’ru-Chelvachchannithi road while local people are not allowed Mahinda Kathurusinghe said that he will soon make transport arrangements for the local people to travel along the said road.

Sinhala Buddhist pilgrims from South are allowed by SLA to use the road on their way to Keerimalai and Maathakal.

SLA had opened the road for a few days for public use during the Chelvachchanithi temple festival but had again blocked it for local people.

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