Court orders NGAs :

Expedite de-mining for early re-settlement

Dhaneshi Yatawara

The Supreme Court directed the Non-Governmental Agencies (NGAs) to expedite the de-mining program in the Jaffna High Security Zone (HSZ) jointly with the Sri Lanka Army in order to start resettling the people of the area in their original places.

This was revealed at the meeting of the Committee nominated by the Supreme Court to resettle people in Valikamam North of the HSZ in the Tellipalai DS Division. “We informed the relevant de-mining agencies of this important decision and it will be implemented immediately,” Chairman of the Committee and Jaffna High Court Judge R.T. Vignaraja said.

The rest of the Committee comprises Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Mendaka Samarasinghe, Jaffna District Secretary, K. Ganesh and Deputy Inspector General (Northern Range) Dayananda Bandara. In addition, the Supreme Court has directed the relevant authorities to take necessary action for the Jaffna Government Hospital to function properly.

The Supreme Court also directed the Committee to shift the bund adjoining the hospital premises and set up fences so that the hospital is outside the HSZ, allowing people easy access to the hospital.

“The Supreme Court gave this directive as the Jaffna Government Hospital is the second largest hospital in the island and the only hospital with the facility to treat cancer patients,” Vignaraja added.

Meanwhile, the Jaffna High Court requested the civilians who fled the battle affected areas and live unnoticed among the Jaffna civil population, to surrender to them, HC Judge R.T. Vignaraja further said.

“Some of the people who have recently escaped from the affected areas are reported to be living among the Jaffna people without being registered with the respective authorities. For the safety of their own lives and of the Jaffna people we continue to request them through public announcing systems to surrender to the District High Court,” Vignaraja added. As of yesterday four people have surrendered accordingly, he said.

These people will be subjected to the same legal procedure as those who seek the protection of the Human Rights Commission.