Army trying to reduce security points ahead of UNHRC sessions

 Wednesday, 22 January 2014 

The government in its preparations to face the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva this March has decided to remove several security checkpoints in the Northern Province.

The move comes a few days after President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s statement that the number of soldiers in the North has been reduced to 12,000 at present from 60,000-75,000 during the period of the war.

The Defence Ministry has stated that army would take steps to further reduce the number of security points manned by the army in Jaffna.

The Ministry has reportedly quoted the Commander of the Jaffna Security Forces, Major General Udaya Perera, as saying that a number of security points manned by the army have been removed considering the peaceful environment prevailing in Jaffna.

He has said that steps would be taken to withdraw some more except the camps essential to ensure security in the peninsula in future as situations permit.