Letters of Assurance to House Beneficiaries at Keeramalai Housing Complex Delivered

Precursor to the investiture of new houses under construction at Keeramalai, Jaffna in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), still languishing in relief centres across the peninsula, the Jaffna District Secretariat in close collaboration with the project pilots, the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), gave away letters of assurance to 100 displaced families during a brief ceremony, held inside the Keeramalai Housing Complex on Friday (26).

Security Force Headquarters – Jaffna (SFHQ-J) in coordination with the District Secretariat – Jaffna giving an assurance to resolve the IDP homeless issue once for all recently undertook the challenge of constructing 100 new houses in the government allocated lands, close to the Palaly High Security Zone with the blessings of the Commander of the Army and the able guidance and leadership of Major General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander, SF-J. Construction work of each house is now nearly 60 percent complete and the formal resettlement would take place early in October. 

During the ceremony, District Secretary for Jaffna, Mr N Vethanayhan and the Commander, Security Forces – Jaffna (SF-J), Major General Mahesh Senanayake handed over the letters of assurance of lands and houses to selected IDP families, beneficiaries of the project.

Subsequently, the Jaffna Commander addressed the gathering and explained the future plans of the government and the military involvement in the project which resolves a long festering grievance. Furthermore, the Jaffna Commander confirmed the commitment of the Army to this programme until the word ‘IDP’ is removed from the vocabulary of people in the Jaffna peninsula. (See previous Photo Story on Defence Secretary, State Officials & Commander Evaluate Progress in Released Lands)

District Secretary for Jaffna, the Commander, SF-J, General Officer Commanding, 51 Division, Brigadier Mervyn Perera, Divisional Secretariat Thellipalai, Mr K Sri Mohanan, Additional Secretary, Jaffna, Mr Subramaniam Muhandiram, government officials and senior military officers attended the event.