Evicted Muslims will be resettled by May - President

by Rasika SOMARATNE and Danushka GODAKUMBURA

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said all Muslim civilians who were forcibly evicted from the North 20 years ago will be resettled in their original places of residence with all infrastructure facilities. President Rajapaksa was speaking at the All Ceylon Muslim Congress Northern Convention - 2009 at Alankuda, Kalpitiya yesterday.

The President in his address at the convention which was organised by Minister Rishard Badiudeen said: “When the innocent Muslims were harassed and forcibly evicted from the North by the LTTE, no one came forward to stop this displacement. Instead of addressing the plight of his own people, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem went to the extent of signing an MoU with the terrorist outfit. “During my visit to the United Nations, I pointed out the plight of the displaced Muslims from the North to the international community. “Now, with my Government putting an end to terrorism, all efforts will be made to resettle the Muslims who were displaced from the North by May next year.

My Government will not let down the innocent Muslim civilians in the North who lost all their belongings at the hands of the LTTE 20 years ago.” “We will ensure that innocent Muslim civilians who had to leave their original places in the North due to LTTE threats will be resettled in their own properties. Their houses, schools and business establishments will be rebuilt with all necessary infrastructure facilities,” the President said.

He added that he would not allow terrorism to raise its ugly head again. “Terrifying incidents such as the Kathankudy Mosque massacre in the East will not be allowed to happen again. There won’t be room for petty political differences and equal opportunities will be given to all citizens in the country,” the President said.

Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa said the displaced Muslims from the North would be resettled in their original places by May 2010. “The Government has worked out extensive plans for the resettlement with all necessary infrastructure facilities,” he said.

Ministers Rishard Badiudeen, Milroy Fernando and Champika Ranawaka, Deputy Minister Neomal Perera and Governor Western Province Alavi Mowlana also spoke at the event, where thousands of displaced Muslims from the North, who are currently living in Puttalam and Kalpitiya districts, participated.