IDPs resettled in High Security Zones - Minister

Even though some politicians claimed that resettlement would never be a reality, people were in fact being resettled even in areas which once used to be high security zones, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister and EPDP Secretary General Douglas Devananda at a meeting held at Tellipalai on May 09 to discuss resettlement of IDPs in Tellipalai Divisional Secretariat Division. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa presided over the meeting.

The minister said that the people had obtained through peace what they couldn’t have won either through the Indo-Lanka pact or by the armed struggle. He said what Sri Lanka needed in future were Peace Zones not Security Zones as proclaimed by the President.

Many selfish politicians are spreading false rumours that resettlement was not taking place as declared by the government, he added.

When resettlement of IDPs is complete, ungrateful politicians’ lies would be bared, the minister said.

The President is working with commitment and determination to resettle all IDPs as early as possible, he said. Jaffna District EPDP MP Silvestri Alentin, TNA MPs Mavai Senadirajah, Sridharan and E Saravanabavan, Jaffna GA Emilda Sukumar, Jaffna Mayor Yogeswary Patkunarajah, Northern Province Governor Major General GA Chandrasiri, North Army Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and other officials participated at this discussion.