NO CIVILIAN WENT MISSING IN VANNI

* Tamil politicos, media reporting falsehoods

* Top priority to resettle Tamils

Ridma Dissanayake and Rakshana Sriyantha

Not a single civilian had gone missing in the Vanni district after the end of the war, Vanni Security Forces Commander and Officer-in-Charge of Displaced Persons in the Northern Province Major General Boniface Perera said yesterday.

"If anyone says someone has gone missing after the end of terrorism and if they are ready to give information on s who had gone missing etc, and when and where, I am ready to debate with any person at any international forum on behalf of the government," he said.

Major. General Perera said no one has gone missing or has being abducted in the Vanni after the war and added that he was ready to challenge anybody who says anyone went missing after the conclusion of the war in the Vanni.

He said persons and groups making these allegations against the government have not yet made any attempt to provide any kind of welfare or benefits for the war-affected.

"Not only Tamils, but Sinhalese and Muslims have also been displaced during the three decade war.

We have given priority to the Tamils in the resettlement programme under the direction of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Persons pointing fingers at the government have forgotten all these things," Major General Perera said. The government has paid attention to the resettlement of Sinhalese after resettling the Tamils. Several Tamil political parties and Tamil media are trying to distort the truth.

The tragedy is all these persons are attempting this distortion while knowing the truth, he said. Major General Perera requested all persons, groups, political parties and the public to make him aware if anyone had gone missing or kidnapped.

He said anyone has the opportunity to meet him privately and make complaints related to such incidents.