'Udayan trying to create another terrorist era'

Ridma Dissanayake and Rakshana sriyantha

The Udayan newspaper has published another article arousing communal hatred under the title the government is in an attempt to establish Sinhala colonies in Walikalam North in the Jaffna Peninsula.

Commenting on this article, Northern Province Governor Major General G A Chandrasiri said: "The Udayan newspaper is in an attempt to create racism in Sri Lanka again. They are trying to highlight that the government is trying to establish Sinhala colonies in the Northern Province continuously which is false." The government is to acquire some land in the Walikamam area to ensure security in that area and arrangements are made to grant alternate lands or compensation for the owners of those lands. Authorities are now involved in the administrative work to grant land and compensation, he said.

In such a situation, publishing news and articles which can cause damage to reconciliation of Sinhalese and Tamils will be a threat to the peaceful environment and law of the country, the Governor said.

"Civilians who lived in Walikakam area and who have lost their lands have filed a number of cases in courts. That is the most powerful place where we can go when we face injustice.

We are obliged to respect the last decision of courts and the government is ready to respect court's orders. In such a situation, trying to create conflict among Sinhalese and Tamils by publishing articles which arouse communal hatred is shameful," Governor Chandrasiri said.

"If the government needs to establish Sinhala colonies, it has enough space in barren lands. But the government will never take decisions in a thoughtless manner. The government has a land policy approved by the Parliament. They are following that when acquiring land.

If the government violates that policy, the public have a right to take legal action without any barrier," he added.

"Maintaining law and peace in the country is the main aim of the government. It has a huge responsibility to ensure law and order in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well," he said.

The government has launched a number of programmes to resettle displaced persons, to uplift their living standards and livelihoods while accepting it as its responsibility, the Governor added.

He said: "Publishing such articles and trying to set communities against each other will be reasons to create another terrorism era in Sri Lanka."