Plans to settle Sinhalese in Jaffna -Devananda

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 March 1999, 16:46 GMT]
The EPDP leader Douglas Devananda MP charged in Parliament today that the Sri Lankan Security forces are attempting to establish a Sinhala colony on 12 thousand acres of land belonging to Tamil civilians adjacent to the Palaly-Kankesanthurai base complex.

While speaking on the extension of the island wide emergency this afternoon, Douglas Devananda said that he has come by information that the Sri Lankan security forces are attempting to take over land belonging to civilians in Waligamam north in Kankesanthurai (KKS), Tellipalai, Palaly and Vasavilaan.

He asked whether the army intends to establish the largest military base in the world by taking over such a large tract of land.

He said that the army is refusing to let thousands of civilians who were displaced from Waligamam north resettle in their home areas.

The EPDP leader pointed out that the land the army is attempting to take over consists of prime residential and agricultural properties belonging to the displaced Tamil civilians.

He said that there is a theory that a military base can be protected from the LTTE by settling a 'friendly' population around it and that he suspects the Sri Lankan Security Forces are attempting to take over the land for this purpose. Douglas Devananda said he has to therefore suspect that Sinhalese may be settled on the lands belonging to Tamil civilians in Waligamam north.

The EPDP however voted with the government later in the afternoon to extend the emergency.

The emergency was passed by a majority of 100 votes. The CWC voted with the government too. Six MPs of the TELO, TULF and the Sri Lanka Progressive front voted against the extension.