Morogoda visits Akkaraipattu, confers with local leaders

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 October 2002, 16:19 GMT]
Minister of Science, Technology and Economic Reforms Mr.Milinda Morogoda Saturday visited Akkaraipattu in the southeast and conferred with local community leaders the future course of action to be taken to maintain peace in the area. It was decided at a conference held at Akkaraipattu cultural hall Saturday to form a peace committee, which would facilitate reconciliation between communities whenever problems arise.

Defense Ministry Secretary Mr. Austin Fernando and Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat Mr.Bernard Gunatilake accompanied Minister Morogoda. Ampara district Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Mr. A.Chandra Nehru, LTTE Amparai district political leader Mr.Bawa and religious leaders of all faiths participated at the conference.

Mr.Bernard Gunatilake, Peace Secretariat Secretary General said, “Liberation Tigers are wholeheartedly extending their support to the peace process. The government has dedicated itself to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict. People also should support the government’s peace efforts”

Defence Ministry Secretary Mr. Austin Fernando said, “instruction has been issued to the authorities concerned to arrest anyone who is engaged in derailing the peace process.”

High ranking officials of the Police, Sri Lanka Army and Special Task Force also attended the conference, which commenced around 11 a.m. and lasted for two hours.

Mr. Chandra Nehru, TNA parliamentarian made a request at the conference to take immediate steps to question the particular individual who spread the story that some persons had arrived in a white van without a number plate and abducted Seenithamby Wajeed on October 15th.

The youth Wajeed was found in his home Friday morning when the Sri Lanka Army, Police, Special Task Force and Navy carried out a concerted cordon and search operation Thursday night in Akkaraipattu and its suburbs.

It was stressed at the meeting that in future authorities concerned should promptly arrest persons who spread rumours that would lead to clashes between communities.

Later in the afternoon Minister Milinda Morogoda visited the Kanchirankuda Special Task Force camp and held talks with the STF officials. The Minister was accompanied Mr. Austin Fernando, Defence Ministry Secretary and Mr.Bernard Gunatilake, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat.