SC orders resettlement of 24 families in Jaffna HSZ

Wasantha Ramanayake

The Supreme Court ordered 24 families to be immediately resettled in the Jaffna High Security Zone when three rights applications in connection with resettlement of IDPs were mentioned before court on Monday.

The court also directed the respondents to resettle 168 and 258 families in two subsequent stages once landmine clearing in the areas is completed.

The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC and Justices Saleem Marsoof PC and P.A. Rathnayake PC.

The Court also directed the respondents to consider removing or setting up in alternative places three checkpoints located in the proximity of two schools and a hospital in Jaffna.

Petitioners, two farmers and TNA Parliamentarian M. Senadhirajah complained to the court that the Security Forces had failed to resettle them in the plots of land belonging to them, located in the High Security Zone in Jaffna.

They stated that they had been living there until 1992 but was subsequently displaced due to the strife.

M. Sumanthiran appeared for the petitioners. Senior State Counsel Parinda Ranasinghe appeared for the respondents.