Security Forces to assist rehabilitation and reconstruction -Maj Gen Mark

By Ananth PALAKIDNAR

The New Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General L. B. R. Mark said that the Security Forces in the North would be utilised to assist the Government's rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in the North.

Major General Mark assumed duties as the new Jaffna Security Forces Commander on Friday.

He was given guard of honour at the Northern Security Forces headquarters in Palaly prior to assuming duties.

Earlier Maj. Gen. Mark was the Commander of the 51 brigade in Jaffna. He was at the National Defence University of China for one year just prior to his new appointment as the Security Forces Commander, Jaffna. Commenting on his new appointment Maj. Gen. Mark told the Sunday Observer, the Security Forces in the North have given priority to the rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.

"With the elimination of LTTE terrorism, the Security Forces in the North have now engaged in a new role of developing the region. More than hundred acres of paddy land in Jaffna have now been handed over to their owners for cultivation by the Security Forces last week.

Senior Advisor to the President and Member of Parliament Basil Rajapaksa began ploughing the paddy land soon after he accepted it from the Security Forces.

"When the 51 brigade in Jaffna was commanded by me from year 2005 to 2008, I was able to feel the pulse of the people there.

The Jaffna people are peace loving and they always looked forward to live in harmony, while focusing on their economic activities and education.

Therefore with the elimination of LTTE terrorism, the Northerners have ample opportunities in developing their region and the Security Forces will stand by them", Maj. Gen. Mark said.

He also added that the demining activities were currently in progress in several areas in the North.

"As far as fishing and agricultural activities are concerned the restrictions that had prevailed for a long period have now been lifted with signs of improvements in these areas", he said.

Major General L. B. R. Mark joined the Sri Lanka Army as a cadet officer in 1980.

He pursued his higher studies in his career in Senior Command College of Combat in Mahow in India, Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Hawaii, George C Marshal Centre for Security Studies, Germany and National Defence University, China.