Anandasangraee urges President to immediately release land held by security forces in North

General Secretary of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) V. Anandasangaree has urged President Maithripala Sirisena to take immediate measures to release all the private lands in the North and East that are still being held by the security forces.

In a letter to President Sirisena, Anandasangaree has reiterated his party’s demand for the release of lands belonging to various individuals at different places in the Districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi, Vanni and at various places in the Eastern Province as well.

He said the party is of the opinion that continuing to hold these lands cannot under any circumstances, be justified and warned the Government the only way to solve the land issue is to “promptly and unconditionally” quit all such lands.

Recalling that the former President did not take his advice to release the lands, the TULF leader warned President Sirisena that the movement to demand the release of lands is now fast gaining ground and asked the President to concede to the demands of people.

“Hence the Government should not loose time to concede the demands of the people,” the TULF leader said.

He said that in a peaceful situation, so many army camps are not necessary and all camps other than those that were in existence before the war should be closed down immediately.

The following is the full text of the TULF General Secretary’s letter to the President.

20th April 2017

His Excellency Maithiripala Sirisena President of Sri Lanka

Your Excellency,

Release of lands occupied by the Forces

The Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), reiterates its demand for the release of lands belonging to various individuals, at different places in the Districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Killinochchi, Vanni, and at various places in the Eastern Province as well. The TULF is very frankly of the opinion, that continuing to hold these lands cannot under any circumstances, be justified. For any human being, living in any part of the world, land is too precious for anyone to give up. It is such a sensitive issue, I wish to warn the Government Your Excellency, that the only way to solve this problem is to promptly and unconditionally quit all such lands.

I wish to quote from a Press Release of the TULF dated 02nd July, 2010, signed by me as the Secretary General. TULF. The first paragraph itself says, “I am frankly of the opinion that the opening of an Army Camp at Mullaithevu as a fore-runner and the decision of the Government to build permanent houses for the Army are ill-timed, counterproductive and will very soon prove disastrous. I am not that foolish as to stir up a hornet’s nest by protesting against these moves. Whatever I do and say are always with patriotic feelings. My sincere advice is that the Government should forthwith stop opening any more new camps in Vanni, close down the one already opened and also abandon the idea of constructing permanent houses in the North and the East for the use of the Army. The Government should understand and appreciate my thinking and give credibility to my suggestions.”

The fears expressed by me at that time now stands proved. Your predecessor did not take my advice but I hope you will. The movement to demand the release of lands, is now fast gaining ground. Added to this, even the Catholic clergy is getting worried over the new developments. Hence the Government should not loose time to concede the demands of the people. In a peaceful situation, so much of Army Camps are not at all necessary and all Camps other than those that were in existence before the war, should be closed down immediately, without causing humiliation to the people who think that they are fighting a holy war.

Your Excellency, any further delay may prove detrimental and may even end up with the demand, that the Tamil MPs of these districts should quit Parliament.

Thanking You,

V.Anandasangraee

Secretary General - TULF