Northern Governor, Major General G.A.Chandrasiri yesterday said that state land will be provided to relocate troops who are currently occupying civilian property in the Jaffna peninsula within the next 2- 3 months. He said that the matter had been discussed in detail with government officials in the Northern Province recently where an agreement had been reached. The Governor said officials were currently in the process of identifying state land within the peninsula.

Meanwhile Security Forces Commander of Jaffna Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe said he had made a request to the Governor seeking state land to relocate troops occupying private property.

He said that 56 per cent of the private land occupied by troops had been handed over already and at present troops were only occupying 400 private houses within the peninsula.

Meanwhile, the troop strength in the Jaffna peninsula has decreased by over 10,000 during the last two and a half years.

Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe who took over as Security Forces Commander for Jaffna in the latter part of 2009, said the troop strength in Jaffna has come down from 26,000 then to around 15,600 today.

Referring to the status of military occupied civilian property, Major General Hathurusinghe said 56 percent of private properties occupied by troops in Jaffna have been cleared and handed over.

He said others which can be cleared without compromising security will be handed over soon as the military finds adequate space to relocate troops occupying those properties. He said a request has been made to the Northern Governor in this regard.

Major General Hathurusinghe said since 1995, the military had to occupy some private properties. “However the government has always paid full rent to owners of these properties at all times.”

Questioned about the validity of claims by some about troop numbers increasing instead of decreasing, he said the numbers expose the lie.

Commenting on the current security situation in the peninsula, Major General Hathurusinghe said it has been very peaceful and the incidence of crimes and violent acts was low.

“In fact it is on par or better if you compare with other parts of the country,” he said.

By Rasika SOMARATHNA
Source: Daily News