Published on - 6/19/2004
In what was seen as another gesture of fast strengthening bonds of goodwill and co-operation between members of the public and the Security Forces in the Jaffna peninsula, particularly after the ceasefire agreement was signed, the Security Forces after fully de-mining an abandoned cultivable land of 18,01775 sq. meters in Maravanpulo, Chavakachcheri, returned the land for public use this weekend, July 17 during a brief ceremony.
The marshy land of this magnitude, used previously for paddy cultivation remained heavily infested with landmines and abandoned until the Army Engineers in collaboration with other Non Governmental Organizations took the initiative for de-mining and cleared the area of landmines and booby traps before it was officially entrusted to the custodianship of the Divisional Secretary for Jaffna District, Mr. C. Padmanadan.
The brief ceremony for the release of these lands took place in a location close to the mine-cleared paddy fields in Maravanpulo. On behalf of Major General M. D. S Chandrapala, Commander, Security Forces (Jaffna), Brigadier T. W. Jayawardena, General Officer Commanding, 52 Division formally handed over the formal Certificate of Mine-Clearance for the area to the Divisional Secretary adding significance and legitimacy to this humanitarian task.
Divisional Secretary for Jaffna district, Mr. C Padmanadan in acknowledgement of the official declaration of clearance thanked the Sri Lanka Army and others for their initiative in this regard and assured that the land owners would be accordingly advised to start off their paddy cultivations shortly before onset of the next monsoon rains. \"This clearance would enormously help them to earn their living by cultivations,\" Mr Padmanadan said in his brief address to the gathering.
Representatives of religious denominations, including Rev T. H. Wasantha Kumar of Chavakachcheri church, Assistant Government Agent for Chavakachcheri Mr. S. Sirinivasan, Agrarian Officer, Mr. T. Sunderaisan, Grama Sevaka, Mr. P. Sabhanandan, Representatives of mine-clearing UNDP and RONCO organizations, Officer In Charge, S. B. R Wedage, Chavakachcheri Police Station, Representatives of Cultivators Associations, Members of the farming community and the public, and a gathering of senior Army officers graced the occasion.
