Sunday 15 January 2012 By Ranga Jayasuriya
The army has issued a directive to the Government Agent (GA) of Jaffna that certain High Security Zone (HSZ) lands which were earlier earmarked to be released to their private owners be retained for military use, claims the Tamil National Alliance.
“Certain properties in Mathagal and Thelakatti, the latter which is located in the Pallali High Security Zone were earlier earmarked to be handed over to their owners, but now the army has written to the GA that these properties would be retained,” TNA MP Suresh Premachandra said.
He said his party would petition the Supreme Court over the issue. The TNA earlier obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court over the government’s land circular, which exclusively deals with land in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. It requires all persons in the North and East, including private landowners, to submit ‘ownership application forms’ disclosing all details of their land. If the private owners fail to furnish details within two months, they stand to lose their lands.
Army spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi declined to comment on the specific allegation, saying that the issue comes under the purview of the Ministry of Defence.
However, he added that the army is in the process of handing over HSZ lands to their owners and that the General Officer Command (Jaffna), Major General Hathurusinghe has set an ultimatum to complete the process.
“But the army will be forced to retain certain areas as per the requirement of national security and the owners of those lands will be properly compensated,” he said. “But the majority of the lands will be released and the process is now underway,” he added.
