Under the government’s resettlement project for displaced northern civilians, areas covering nine Grama Niladhari Divisions in Valikamam North were released to the public by the Sri Lanka Army on Monday (9) during a ceremony held at the famous Mavadipuram Kandaswamy Temple.
According to Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat, nearly 12,274 civilians of 3511 families are to be resettled in their original homesteads after 21 years of displacement.
Grama Niladhari Divisions of J/226 Naguleshwaram, J/228 Thelippalai, J/230 Thanthaiselvapuram, J /231 Mavadipuram, J/239 Kadduwan West, J/232 Mavadipuram South and a part of J/236 Palai Vemankamam North and J/237 Palai Vemankamam South coming under the administration of Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat were thus released for use of those owners.
Meanwhile, the remaining areas of J/225 Kolankallady were also released to the Divisional Secretary in the area by the Army. A few weeks ago several more villages in the area were also released.
Addressing the large gathering of civilians, Hon. Minister of Economic Development Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, who graced the ceremony as Chief Guest, said that there are some international elements operating with the connivance of some Tamil politicians to tarnish the image of the country. He further said that their hidden agenda impaired the resettlement process, yet while enjoying all the privileges, being agents of those evil forces.
Further, the Minister said that all the lands, belonging to civilians but still held by the Security Forces will also be released back to people on the directions of His Excellency, the President.
“I came to Jaffna with a special message from His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President asked me to convey that he would give everything to you, except the lives lost. So you are assured of everything by the government to live a peaceful life in your original places of residence,” the Minister Basil Rajapaksa stated.
These areas situated on the Jaffna-KKS main road and Mavadipuram-Keeramalai road remained earlier within the boundaries of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) High Security Zone (HSZ) and heavily mined by terrorists during their presence in Mavadipuram and Thelippalai areas. Removal of mines and UXOs in the Mavadipuram area was expedited last year on the instructions of the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe under the aegis of the Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“Beggars never want to see their wounds heal because they live on them. In the same way, such elements spend dollars to disturb peace in the country for their own survival,” the Minister added. He appealed to all those present to be united against anti Sri Lankan elements and preserve peace, secured through priceless sacrifices of War Heroes and ordinary people of this country.
Many months ago, the areas around Thelippalai Cancer Hospital and the Thelippalai Union College located within the HSZ were de-mined and made accessible to civilians by the Army on humanitarian grounds. With further shrinkage of the HSZ since Monday (9), the public have free access to many places like Naguleshwaram and Mavadipuram temples, Keeramalai Ponds, Raja Rajeshwari Kovil, Kolankallady Kovil and several other areas.
Hindu priests, Hon. Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Mr. Douglas Devananda, Governor Northern Province Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri, TNA (Tamil National Alliance) Parliamentarians for Jaffna District, Commander SF-J Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, District Secretary for Jaffna Mrs. Emelda Sukumar, General Officer Commanding 51 Division Major General Janaka Walgama, Divisional Secretary Thelippalai Mr. S. Muralitharan, a section of senior officers of the Army and many other government officials witnessed the official ceremony.
According to Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat, nearly 12,274 civilians of 3511 families are to be resettled in their original homesteads after 21 years of displacement.
Grama Niladhari Divisions of J/226 Naguleshwaram, J/228 Thelippalai, J/230 Thanthaiselvapuram, J /231 Mavadipuram, J/239 Kadduwan West, J/232 Mavadipuram South and a part of J/236 Palai Vemankamam North and J/237 Palai Vemankamam South coming under the administration of Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat were thus released for use of those owners.
Meanwhile, the remaining areas of J/225 Kolankallady were also released to the Divisional Secretary in the area by the Army. A few weeks ago several more villages in the area were also released.
Addressing the large gathering of civilians, Hon. Minister of Economic Development Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, who graced the ceremony as Chief Guest, said that there are some international elements operating with the connivance of some Tamil politicians to tarnish the image of the country. He further said that their hidden agenda impaired the resettlement process, yet while enjoying all the privileges, being agents of those evil forces.
Further, the Minister said that all the lands, belonging to civilians but still held by the Security Forces will also be released back to people on the directions of His Excellency, the President.
“I came to Jaffna with a special message from His Excellency, the President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President asked me to convey that he would give everything to you, except the lives lost. So you are assured of everything by the government to live a peaceful life in your original places of residence,” the Minister Basil Rajapaksa stated.
These areas situated on the Jaffna-KKS main road and Mavadipuram-Keeramalai road remained earlier within the boundaries of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) High Security Zone (HSZ) and heavily mined by terrorists during their presence in Mavadipuram and Thelippalai areas. Removal of mines and UXOs in the Mavadipuram area was expedited last year on the instructions of the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe under the aegis of the Secretary Defence Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“Beggars never want to see their wounds heal because they live on them. In the same way, such elements spend dollars to disturb peace in the country for their own survival,” the Minister added. He appealed to all those present to be united against anti Sri Lankan elements and preserve peace, secured through priceless sacrifices of War Heroes and ordinary people of this country.
Many months ago, the areas around Thelippalai Cancer Hospital and the Thelippalai Union College located within the HSZ were de-mined and made accessible to civilians by the Army on humanitarian grounds. With further shrinkage of the HSZ since Monday (9), the public have free access to many places like Naguleshwaram and Mavadipuram temples, Keeramalai Ponds, Raja Rajeshwari Kovil, Kolankallady Kovil and several other areas.
Hindu priests, Hon. Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Mr. Douglas Devananda, Governor Northern Province Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri, TNA (Tamil National Alliance) Parliamentarians for Jaffna District, Commander SF-J Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, District Secretary for Jaffna Mrs. Emelda Sukumar, General Officer Commanding 51 Division Major General Janaka Walgama, Divisional Secretary Thelippalai Mr. S. Muralitharan, a section of senior officers of the Army and many other government officials witnessed the official ceremony.
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