Is It True?
There was no
land grab so far during President Rajapaksa’s government in the Jaffna
Peninsula – Minister Basil Rajapaksa
land grab so far during President Rajapaksa’s government in the Jaffna
Peninsula – Minister Basil Rajapaksa
Wed, 2013-09-11 11:19 — editor
By
K.T.Rajasingham
K.T.Rajasingham
Colombo, 11
September, (Asiantribune.com):
September, (Asiantribune.com):
Not an inch of land has been grabbed in the Jaffna
Peninsula after November 2005 – under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa,
pointed out Basil Rajapaksa.
Peninsula after November 2005 – under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa,
pointed out Basil Rajapaksa.
In a media meet held yesterday at Jaffna, at the Green
Grass Hotel Auditorium, Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa
assured that the Northern Provincial Council Election will be free and fair,
without the interference of the Army and allayed the fears and concerns of the
media personnel who raised this issue.
Grass Hotel Auditorium, Minister for Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa
assured that the Northern Provincial Council Election will be free and fair,
without the interference of the Army and allayed the fears and concerns of the
media personnel who raised this issue.
When
responding to a question about the land issue in the Peninsula, Minister Basil
Rajapaksa traced the history of the land acquisition. He said it dated back to
the period of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).
responding to a question about the land issue in the Peninsula, Minister Basil
Rajapaksa traced the history of the land acquisition. He said it dated back to
the period of the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).
Minister
clarified that it was the IPKF who started the acquisition of lands in the
Peninsula. He added following the land acquisition by IPKF, it was followed by
acquiring lands under Emergency Regulations and under various laws and
regulations.
clarified that it was the IPKF who started the acquisition of lands in the
Peninsula. He added following the land acquisition by IPKF, it was followed by
acquiring lands under Emergency Regulations and under various laws and
regulations.
When
the Minister told that initially lands were acquired by the Indian Peace Keeping
Forces, a journalist took exception.
the Minister told that initially lands were acquired by the Indian Peace Keeping
Forces, a journalist took exception.
But Asian
Tribune Editor who was one of the media person present at the
Press Meet, strongly agreed with the Minister and said most of the journalists
who were present in the Press Meet were either not born when the IPKF
forcefully took over the lands from the Jaffna civilians or they were toddlers
and they were not aware of such forceful appropriation of lands by the IPKF.
Tribune Editor who was one of the media person present at the
Press Meet, strongly agreed with the Minister and said most of the journalists
who were present in the Press Meet were either not born when the IPKF
forcefully took over the lands from the Jaffna civilians or they were toddlers
and they were not aware of such forceful appropriation of lands by the IPKF.
When
speaking on the Land Issue Minister Basil Rajapaks said this Government would
follow the law to the very alphabet and lands if it is needed for development
purposes and for security reasons would be taken over by informing the owners
of the intention of taking over such land, legal notices would be sent,
gazetted and arrangements would be made to pay compensation to such lands
according to the value of the intended land that will be taken over by the
Government.
speaking on the Land Issue Minister Basil Rajapaks said this Government would
follow the law to the very alphabet and lands if it is needed for development
purposes and for security reasons would be taken over by informing the owners
of the intention of taking over such land, legal notices would be sent,
gazetted and arrangements would be made to pay compensation to such lands
according to the value of the intended land that will be taken over by the
Government.
Minister
Basil Rajapaksa when further responding to a media person’s question as to when
the lands belonging to the Vali North people would be returned , he said that
Government under Mahinda Rajapaksa has already started giving back lands that
are not needed for any government purposes to the rightful owners.
Basil Rajapaksa when further responding to a media person’s question as to when
the lands belonging to the Vali North people would be returned , he said that
Government under Mahinda Rajapaksa has already started giving back lands that
are not needed for any government purposes to the rightful owners.
He
further said that recently the Election Commissioner has contacted him and
pointed out that handing back lands to the owners during the Northern
Provincial Council elections constitute violation of election laws and request
to desist from handing over lands during the elections. Minister said that
returning of lands would continue after 21st September, after the polling to
the Northern Provincial Council.
further said that recently the Election Commissioner has contacted him and
pointed out that handing back lands to the owners during the Northern
Provincial Council elections constitute violation of election laws and request
to desist from handing over lands during the elections. Minister said that
returning of lands would continue after 21st September, after the polling to
the Northern Provincial Council.
In
the meantime Asian Tribune Editor brought to the
notice of the Minister that there are more than 2000 acres of Government land
available in the Vallai Veli, very close to Palaly and that land could be made
use for the construction of an Airport and those lands lie very close proximity
to Palaly and the airport too can be called as Palaly.
the meantime Asian Tribune Editor brought to the
notice of the Minister that there are more than 2000 acres of Government land
available in the Vallai Veli, very close to Palaly and that land could be made
use for the construction of an Airport and those lands lie very close proximity
to Palaly and the airport too can be called as Palaly.
Minister
Basil Rajapaksa said the suggestion of put forward by Editor Asian
Tribune has to be studied and actions may be taken in the near
future for the same.
Basil Rajapaksa said the suggestion of put forward by Editor Asian
Tribune has to be studied and actions may be taken in the near
future for the same.
Minister
continued to explain that the Hhigh Security Zone was erected in the Peninsula
due to 30 years of war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and it was
mooted initially by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces.
continued to explain that the Hhigh Security Zone was erected in the Peninsula
due to 30 years of war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and it was
mooted initially by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces.
He
added after their (IPKF) return to Indi and those appropriated lands were not
returned back to the people.
added after their (IPKF) return to Indi and those appropriated lands were not
returned back to the people.
However,
he said, the appropriated lands for High Security Zone were not returned back
by any of the previous governments . But he said after 2005 during the
Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa not an inch of land has been taken over.
he said, the appropriated lands for High Security Zone were not returned back
by any of the previous governments . But he said after 2005 during the
Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa not an inch of land has been taken over.
He
went on to say that after 2009, the Government has taken measures to gradually
return the lands back to people back.
went on to say that after 2009, the Government has taken measures to gradually
return the lands back to people back.
Minister
pointed out that lands were continuously appropriated for important projects
not only in the North but also in the South.
pointed out that lands were continuously appropriated for important projects
not only in the North but also in the South.
Already
many blocs of lands have been taken over in Endaramula located in the Gampaha
district for the construction of the Colombo – Jaffna Expressway. He said that
the people of Endaramulla of course are not going to be benefited by the
construction of an Expressway, but the people in the Jaffna Peninsula would
greatly benefit.
many blocs of lands have been taken over in Endaramula located in the Gampaha
district for the construction of the Colombo – Jaffna Expressway. He said that
the people of Endaramulla of course are not going to be benefited by the
construction of an Expressway, but the people in the Jaffna Peninsula would
greatly benefit.
Similarly
in Sampur in the East, lands are being acquired for the construction of a coal
based Power plant to be constructed by India and agreement for the same with
India has been signed way back in 1987.
in Sampur in the East, lands are being acquired for the construction of a coal
based Power plant to be constructed by India and agreement for the same with
India has been signed way back in 1987.
Therefore,
he appealed that appropriation lands for the welfare of the people should not
be made an ethnic issue and ethnic color should not be painted and tainted.
he appealed that appropriation lands for the welfare of the people should not
be made an ethnic issue and ethnic color should not be painted and tainted.
Minister
Basil Rajapaksa reminded that during the last Pradeshiya Sabah election time,
the Tamil National Alliance in its election campaign said that they could
develop the North without any assistance and help from the Sri Lanka
Government.
Basil Rajapaksa reminded that during the last Pradeshiya Sabah election time,
the Tamil National Alliance in its election campaign said that they could
develop the North without any assistance and help from the Sri Lanka
Government.
He
said it was unfortunate that elected TNA Pradeshiya Sabah Councilors were
unable to do any development works even with the funds allocated by the
government.
said it was unfortunate that elected TNA Pradeshiya Sabah Councilors were
unable to do any development works even with the funds allocated by the
government.
He
brought to the notice of the media persons that two years ago he spent Rs. 500
million to construct the Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabah building and up to
date, it was unfortunate he said, that the completed building was not even
declared open by the TNA controlled Pradeshiya Sabah.
brought to the notice of the media persons that two years ago he spent Rs. 500
million to construct the Chavakachcheri Pradeshiya Sabah building and up to
date, it was unfortunate he said, that the completed building was not even
declared open by the TNA controlled Pradeshiya Sabah.
When
I last visited Chavakachcheri, Minister Basil Rajapaksa said, I found the Fish
Market in a very bad condition and I found that it needed urgent renovation.
After my visit to the fish market, I provided funds for the same. Unfortunately
even today the condition of that fish market remains the same.
I last visited Chavakachcheri, Minister Basil Rajapaksa said, I found the Fish
Market in a very bad condition and I found that it needed urgent renovation.
After my visit to the fish market, I provided funds for the same. Unfortunately
even today the condition of that fish market remains the same.
When
the TNA Pradeshya Sabah Councilors were unable to do any development
activities, there is no guarantee that a Provincial Council under the Tamil
National Alliance would be able do anything to the people of the North.
the TNA Pradeshya Sabah Councilors were unable to do any development
activities, there is no guarantee that a Provincial Council under the Tamil
National Alliance would be able do anything to the people of the North.
Minister
Basil Rajapakse says the election manifesto presented by the TNA is not aimed
at the northern provincial council election. It is aimed to create a conflict
between the public in north and the south.
Basil Rajapakse says the election manifesto presented by the TNA is not aimed
at the northern provincial council election. It is aimed to create a conflict
between the public in north and the south.
He
said, the TNA tries to arouse racial feelings of the southern people and create
a terror situation in the country again. It is another attempt to point out the
election internationally as a one that could be used to gain the right to
self-governance.
said, the TNA tries to arouse racial feelings of the southern people and create
a terror situation in the country again. It is another attempt to point out the
election internationally as a one that could be used to gain the right to
self-governance.
Minister
Basil pointed out that it was pity that TNA was unable come up with a Chief
Minister candidate – one from the nearly 495 ,000 voters in the Jaffna
Peninsula.
Basil pointed out that it was pity that TNA was unable come up with a Chief
Minister candidate – one from the nearly 495 ,000 voters in the Jaffna
Peninsula.
He
said that he tried to find the address of the TNA candidate in the North voters
register and there was no listing of Mr. Vigneswaran’s name.
said that he tried to find the address of the TNA candidate in the North voters
register and there was no listing of Mr. Vigneswaran’s name.
He
said that when he checked the voters list of Colombo Central, he found at 16 C
Cambridge Terrace, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7 the name of Gnanasabapathy
Viswalingham Vigneswaran.
said that when he checked the voters list of Colombo Central, he found at 16 C
Cambridge Terrace, Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo 7 the name of Gnanasabapathy
Viswalingham Vigneswaran.
He
added that Vigneswaran is one of the elites living in a place like Cinnamon
Gardens. How he can understand the problems of an ordinary Tamil of the North,
Minister Basil asked.
added that Vigneswaran is one of the elites living in a place like Cinnamon
Gardens. How he can understand the problems of an ordinary Tamil of the North,
Minister Basil asked.
He
said: “The TNA candidate contesting for the Chief Minister’s post came to
the North only after the war, that too was to hand over his nomination. I have
visited the North more than 200 times after the war to solve the people’s
problems.
said: “The TNA candidate contesting for the Chief Minister’s post came to
the North only after the war, that too was to hand over his nomination. I have
visited the North more than 200 times after the war to solve the people’s
problems.
Therefore
he added The people of the North should take all these things into
consideration and the public of the north should cast their vote to the UPFA if
they want to fulfill their expectations.
he added The people of the North should take all these things into
consideration and the public of the north should cast their vote to the UPFA if
they want to fulfill their expectations.
–
Asian Tribune –
Asian Tribune –
