Northern Sinhalisation: Government To Settle 500 Sinhala Families In Mannar Despite Muslim Anger
August 17, 2013 |
The Government is preparing to relocate 500 Sinhala families to Mannar as part of its agenda to change the ethnic demographic of the predominantly Tamil North, but has recently shelved the plan likely because it had angered the Muslims in the area, the Colombo Telegraph learns.
Agenda to change the ethnic demographic of the predominantly Tamil North | File Photo
Sinhalese families are being offered land and setting up money and even Government positions if they were willing to leave villages in the South to relocate in the Northern Province, it is reliably learnt.
On July 18, 2013 a meeting was held with the recently appointed Mannar Government Agent (District Secretary) M.Y.S. Deshapriya, a former military official after which a memorandum was issued to the Musalai Divisional Secretary providing instructions regarding the relocation of 500 “Sinhalese IDPs”. Deshapriya’s appointment was made on 12 July this year, soon after the former GA J.A.Sarath Raveendra was transferred, allegedly on the grounds that he refused to expedite the Sinhalese relocation. Land distribution is a subject directly under the District Secretary, making Deshapriya’s appointment noteworthy. Raveendra had refused to undertake Sinhala settlement before resettlement of Muslims was complete in keeping with LLRC recommendations, resulting in his transfer on 12 July. Starting the relocation process was the first of the tasks Deshapriya undertook upon his appointment, resulting in the memo to the Divisional Secretary of the area earmarked for the resettlement.
