SLA requested to vacate Hospital, Cultural Center

[TamilNet, Sunday, 27 October 2002, 15:31 GMT]
The Head of Vavuniya branch political section of Liberation Tigers (LTTE),C. Elilan, andthe District Secretary of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Moorthy, have requested the Head of Security forces that the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Police vacate the Cultural Center in Vavuniya settlement and the Neriyakulam-Mankulum hospital for use of these facilities by the area residents.

Deputy Heads of SLA in Vanni, Colonel Vithanage and Colonel Senanayake met with Elilan and Moorthy Saturday at the Ramya House SLA office located in Vavuniya-Kandy road.

The SLA was asked to consider favourably the request to allow the residents of Kannatti to resettle in their own lands and to cultivate their fields, sources said.

It was pointed out to the SLA officers that occupation of Government buildings private properties violates the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the LTTE and Sri Lanka Government and this matter has raised concerns about the peace process in people's mind.

The SLA officers gave assurances that the cultural center will be vacated in two weeks and that they have already taken efforts in this matter. They also will take steps to leave the Neriyakulam hospital for use by the public, the Officers have assured the Tamil delegation.

Following a silent protest by twenty Kannati families Saturday morning, the Army Officer in charge of the district, Colonel Rajapakse, had assured the families that they will soon be allowed to cultivate their lands located more than 300 yards away from the High Security Zone.

Elilan and Moorthy got further confirmation from the SLA officers that permission will be given soon to Kannati families to use their lands with the 300 yard restriction.