Army releases houses, lands to civilians

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Security Forces in Jaffna this week released 77 more houses and 29 plots of land earlier used for military purposes in Jaffna for the use of civilians in a bid to release more houses and lands to civilians.According to the Sri Lanka Army this area was earlier used for military purposes in the 511and 512, Brigades, 9 Sri Lanka National Guards, 25 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and 25 Sri Lanka Light infantry Regiments.

Symbolising the release of the houses and plots of lands to civil authorities, official documents were handed over to Rupani Varthalingam, Additional Secretary Jaffna and M. Pratheedpan, Divisional Secretary Kopay. S. Thavarasa the UPFA candidate in the Jaffna district said soon after 2009 May about 42 Grama Sevaka Divisions in the Thelippalai and Kankesanthurai areas were occupied for High Security Zone.

"Today, the military is occupying only 16 Grama Sevaka Divisions fully and eight GS divisions partly. In addition there were lots of houses occupied by the Army and they are being released to the civilians systematically. Last week they released 32 houses in Ariyalai and Kopai and are planing to release more", he said.

Thavarasa said it was due to the continuous dialogue Minister Douglas Devananda and the EPDP had with the military that this process has come to reality, and not due to complaints made to India or US as the members of the TNA did.

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, Governor Northern Province Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri, Jaffna Security Force Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, senior officers, civil administrative officers and civilians were present at the occasion of handing over the houses to the civilians.