Northern people fear terrorism, want Army to stay – Maj Gen Boniface Perera

Ridma Dissanayake and Rakshana Sriyantha

The Udayan newspaper in another report, questions why the government acquires public lands privately if 14 army camps out of 17 in Jaffna are to be shifted to the Palali High Security Zone.

According to the article published on May 26, Udayan said this question is asked by Tamil civilians in Jaffna. Commenting on this report, Vanni Security Forces Commander and Officer-in-Charge of Displaced Persons Major General Boniface Perera said: “When we look at these facts we can clearly see that these allegations are baseless. We have never acquired any land in the Northern Province after 2009”.

“If anyone says someone has acquired public lands in the Northern Province after defeating terrorism and if they are ready to give information on who had done it and when and where, we are ready investigate into the incident,” he said.

The Udayan newspaper is trying to deface information to divide the Tamil and Sinhala people. They do not like to see Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims living together. They are trying to set these persons against each other and pave way for another Eelam war, the Major General said.

“They are working according to an agenda of the Tamil Diaspora. People who failed to win the Eelam war through terrorism are now trying to win it by dividing Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims by publishing such articles which arouse communal hatred,” Major General Perera said. The Sri Lanka Army Commander has made a clear statement about shifting Army camps. There is no doubt in that, because the government is carrying it out in a well planned manner. The Udayan newspaper and certain Tamil organizations are trying to overcome their political objectives.

Civilians living in the Northern Province are dealing with the Army in a very friendly manner. They do not want the Army to be removed from the Northern Province and are appreciating their friendliness and affability, he pointed out.

“The people do not want the Army to be removed from the Northern Province as they think they will have to face another appalling situation similar to what they experienced during the war period,” he added.

The Sri Lanka Army has already become one of the main contributors of the development process in the Northern Province. Civilians in the North want to assist development by joining with the Army, Major General Perera said.

The government has already resettled war affected persons in the Northern Province and it has given priority to the Northern Province development projects. In such a situation, certain elements such as the Udayan newspaper and other organizations are trying to divide Sri Lanka again.

They can never make their baseless attempts successful, Major General Boniface Perera said.