Defence Ministry officials evaluate progress of released lands in North

A high-level delegation of state officials, including Secretary of Defence Eng Karunasena Hettiarachchi,, together with Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva arrived in Jaffna last Saturday for evaluating the status quo of the Army-released civilian lands in Jaffna and the ongoing house construction projects of the Army for resettlement.

The delegation inspected the Keeramalai site in the Walikamam North where the Army has undertaken the challenging task of constructing 100 new houses within a period of 45 days after General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander, SF-J presented a briefing to the visiting delegation.

During the discussion with the District Secretary for Jaffna and other authorities, matters related to lands so far released by the Army to the public and also the progress that has been hitherto achieved, were taken up for discussion with active inputs given by Mr V Sivagnanasothy, Secretary to Ministry Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs.

As regards the resettlement taking place in Kankasanthurai, Kurumbasetti and Keeramalai areas, a decision was made to give priority to resettlement of fisher folk who have the closest access to the seas in Keeramalai and its surroundings in consultation with the District Secretary and other local authorities.

The delegation visited the boat anchoring point, now fast under reconstruction at Keeramalai with the support of Sri Lanka Navy troops which is an essential need for resettled fishermen. 

The visit, aimed at exploring possibilities for acceleration of ongoing resettlement projects, livelihood promotion programmes, progress of micro and macro economy enterprises and promotion of other reconciliatory moves, was undertaken on the instructions of President Maithripala Sirisena and D. M Swaminathan, Minister of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs.