32 Sinhala families allowed to settled in Naavatkuzhi in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 10 November 2010, 13:25 GMT]
Sri Lanka government authorities hurriedly took 32 Sinhala families claiming resettlement in Jaffna Tuesday night to the housing scheme in Naavatkuzhi area where they were allowed to erect temporary dwellings in lands claimed as government property, sources Jaffna said. The Tamils who inhabit these areas since ancient times say the said lands belong to them. The Tamil families living in the housing scheme expressed fear that the Sinhala families may encroach into their houses in the future, as they are provided with Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police protection.

!93 Sinhala families arrived in Jaffna in the first week of October claiming resettlement in Jaffna and they occupied the old Jaffna Railway Station premises.

SLA and Jaffna Municipality Council administration looks after their needs now.

32 of these Sinhala families were taken Tuesday night and allowed to settle in Naavatkuzhi area.

Some of the houses in the Navatkuzhi housing scheme constructed during President Premadasa’s period were later named Mahindapura when Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed duties as president of Sri Lanka.

Many of the houses in this scheme being ruined during war the Tamil families living there had to share the few remaining houses.

The Sinhala families taken to Naavatkuzhi Tuesday night are engaged in erecting huts with the roof and timber of the ruined houses.

These families are given protection by SLA soldiers and policemen who did not permit local media persons to visit the site.

Chronology: