Government will resettle displaced Muslims - Dr. G. M. S. Zurfick

Chaminda PERERA

Former UNP stalwart Dr. GMS Zurfick yesterday said he is confident that the Government under the able guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take steps to resettle all Muslims who were chased away by the LTTE terrorists from the Mullativu and Jaffna districts in the 1980s and 1990s.

He said over 75,000 Muslims were living in the northern province and they were forcibly evicted from their original habitat within 24 hours by the LTTE to create a single ethnic Tamil State in the northern province.

Dr. Zurfick said President throughout his history has stood up for the legitimate rights of Muslims in the country and outside.

He firmly stood by the people of Palestine and Muslims in the North alike, he said. Dr. Zurfick said former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe during his 2 1/2 year rule betrayed the people and the country by conniving with the terrorists who demanded a separate State for Tamil speaking people in the country.

"Presidential Senior Advisor and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Northern Development should take immediate initiatives to resettle these Muslim in their original land without delay," said Dr. Zurfick.

"The country would become the tourism hub of Asia soon after the northern area is fully freed from mines. The country will soon witness a influx of tourists coming to Sri Lanka," he said.

Dr. Zurfick who has over 30 years experience as a entrepreneur in Japan said the international community should be educated about the facilities offered by the government to investors in Sri Lanka.

"Every single opportunity should be made use to attract more investments to Sri Lanka," he said.

Dr. Zurfick said Sri Lanka's economy will take unprecedented heights within two years if this trends continues.