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Govt. should discuss resettlement, land issues with NPC members after poll: Ranil in Jaffna
View(s):The Government should hold discussions with those who are elected to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC) at the upcoming poll on issues such as resettlement and land allocations and not take unilateral decisions, UNP Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.
Ranil mingling with the people in Jaffna town. Pic by Romesh Danushka
“The UNP’s position is that the resettlement of the people in the north must be done after discussions between the Government and democratically elected representatives to the NPC. It is wrong to take unilateral decisions on these issues as it is no longer an issue that concerns only Sri Lanka, the UNP Leader who is in Jaffna on a visit, said.
He said that in the pledges by the Government made to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2009, reference was made to the settlement of the people. Hence this issue has been made into an international issue by taking it to the UNHRC. If that mistake has been done, it has been done by the Government”
The UNP leader added that in addition to this, the LLRC has made several recommendations on the settlement of people as well as on the distribution of lands. “If we don’t implement these recommendations, the international pressure on us will grow. Whether we like it or not, we have to start implementing them. We need to discuss these issues while keeping in mind that we act in a manner that national security is not harmed in any manner.”
He added that there is also the need to find a political solution to the problem faced by the people. “Without a political solution, there will be no solution to the security problems in the country. Additionally the international pressure will grow.” Mr.Wickremesinghe added that a political solution too has to be discussed with those who are going to be elected to the NPC. “If this PC takes an unjustifiable stand on the issue, we can speak out on it.”
The UNP Leader said his party men are in Jaffna especially to discuss with other political parties the UNP’s participation in the upcoming elections to the NPC. “In addition, we are here to discuss what measures should be taken with regard to the attack on the Uthayan newspaper office.”
He said that many people have come to him with problems they face with regards to resettlement and land ownership. Many questioned what is happening to the lands in Valikamam and other high security zones in the area. He said the UNP‘s position is that after the end of the war, all the land belonging to the people must be returned to them except for those that are needed for security reasons.
As far back as 2003, the UNP discussed how we can return some of the land to the people in the area for farming. However we could not come to a conclusion as the opinion of many was that the security situation has to be taken into consideration before making such a decision.
The UNP leader also visited Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Chavakachcheri yesterday.
Boston bomber booked at same Army resort I stayed at, says Ranil
UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe along with several other party members was in Jaffna over the weekend. Prior to their visit, they had decided to book two rooms at the Thal Sevena Holiday Resort in Kankesanturai which functions under the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna and is located within the High Security Zone. One of the rooms were booked in the names of Mr. an Mrs. Ramalingam while the other was booked in the names of Mr. and Mrs. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev – the latter being the name of the surviving Boston bomber who is now in custody in the USA.
Their booking, Mr.Wickremesinghe told a public rally in Vavuniya, was accepted without any questions asked, Mr.Wickremesinghe later revealed at the function, even providing the reference number given to the couple. However, they did not stay at the venue despite the booking.
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