PRESIDENT Mahinda Rajapaksa, accompanied by a high level entourage including Mr. Lalith Weerathunga, President’s Secretary, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Secretary Defence, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Gunathilaka, Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Commander of the Army and the new Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya this morning (4) visited northern Thunukkai and Mulankavil areas where the President addressed newly resettled civilians and the troops serving Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu Security Forces Headquarters in the North.
The entourage, as the first leg of the day’s itinerary arrived at Thunukkai under 65 Division to a rousing welcome, extended by Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Major General Athula Jayawardane, Commander Security Forces Kilinochchi, Major General Nandana Udawatta, Commander Security Forces, Mullaittivu and senior officers. President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces inspected the guard turnout, presented in his honour.
In what could be termed as a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation, President Rajapaksa thereafter met a record 1200 resettled displaced people in Thunukkai area and delivered a short address to them in Tamil, in which he urged all civilians to unite and help the government to develop the country since the war is now over and peace has dawned.
President Rajapaksa afterwards gave away cash donations, household utensils and items, roofing sheets, agricultural equipment and dry ration packets among those new settlers after his address to them. Cash to the value of Rs. 5000/= plus a bank savings book with a deposit of Rs. 20,000/= was also symbolically distributed among fifteen resettled families, as part of the ongoing Uthuru Wasanthaya (Northern Spring) development programme.
Minutes after that, President Rajapaksa met and addressed a representative gathering of some 3200 troops in Mullankavil Brigade Headquarters. President Rajapaksa during this first visit to Thunukkai in Mullaittivu District after the recent victory over terrorism freely mingled with the troops and shared a couple of thoughts with them. During his address to the troops who selflessly contributed to the success of Wanni operations against terrorism pledged an immediate salary increase to the Security Forces.
The entourage was given a brief account of the current developments in respective areas by Major General Athula Jayawardane, Commander Security Forces Headquarters, Kilinochchi after the delegation was received by him on arrival. Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe, General Officer Commanding 651 Brigade Headquarters meanwhile explained the delegation about the ongoing resettlement programme in the Mullankavil area.
The next stop for the entourage was Mullankavil. President Rajapaksa and the visiting officials inspected the Mullankavil hospital, now under repair and reconstruction and spoke to the Army and civil engineers, engaged in the project in order to learn more about the project.
The delegation later on visited Danish de-mining team at work in the area and shared a couple of thoughts with them. Those de-miners comprised several Jaffna women who have been trained for the work. President Rajapaksa offered them with sweetmeats and learnt more about their ongoing work during an exchange of views.
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