No ethnic based land categorisation in North - minister

Anushika Ranadewa

Lands Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said there was no ethnic based land allocation when resettling citizens in the North. He was explaining his views on the satyagraha organised by the joint opposition opposite the Durga Amman Kovil in Jaffna on February 15.

The minister said the writ application filled by TNP Parliamentarian M A Sumanthiran against circular 2011/04 created total confusion among Tamil citizens and is misleading. Sumanthiran is complaining that the government is not enforcing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations and trying to discourage Tamil citizens by creating a bad impression about the resettlement plan, he said.

Minister Tennakoon said there is no land known as Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim land, but it's for all Sri Lankans.

The minister said land acquisition was done during the conflict due to the expansion of the High Security Zone and the government had provided compensation to the owners.

Tennakkon said a special discussion to implement LLRC recommendations will be held on February 18 with the participation of officials of the Defence Ministry and the three Forces.

The minister requested Northern citizens to join hands by providing accurate information to the government to facilitate its work.