'All facilities for Northern Muslims'

The government will soon take action to restore all that the Muslims had lost when they were unceremoniously chased away from the North by the LTTE in 1990, said Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda.

The minister was speaking at a recent meeting at Usmania College, Jaffna, to look into the necessities and development of the newly resettled displaced Muslim people

Minister Devananda said when the Muslims were dislodged from the North by the LTTE terrorists, he vehemently protested against this inhuman move, 'but the Tiger fascists never heeded his words nor those of the International Community, but, continued with their dastardly acts, by plundering and intimidating the Muslim community in the North.

"However, after the defeat of the terrorists by the Security Forces on the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa led government, lasting peace dawned in the country. It was a happy thing to observe the return of Muslims too, to their former places of residence in Jaffna."

He said the government would do its utmost to provide all the basic facilities required by the newly resettled Muslims in Jaffna.

The minster also said that he would hold meetings of the nature he had on that day on a regular monthly basis to look into the problems faced by them and instructed the Jaffna Government Agent and the relevant officials to take the necessary action to provide the newly resettled with the required facilities, like: housing, education, electricity, drinking water and land ownership.

Independent Jaffna Municipal Council Member Suppian said Minister Devananda has always spoken on behalf of the well being and restoration of the fundamental rights of Muslims in Jaffna.

Suppian also said that when a Saltern in the Puttalam district caught fire, it was Minister Devananda who purchased land with his own money for resettlement of the affected, and the people of the area in gratitude to the minister, have named this place 'DEVAPATH'.

"Several pre-schools are to be opened for the benefit Muslim children in the Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts together with the construction of Muslim religious places of worship," he said.