The government will go ahead with the controversial re registration of land in the North and East.
Speaking to journalists in Colombo, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said “ninety five percent of Internally Displaced People (IDP) have been resettled and there is no need to delay land registration” in the North and East.
Lands Ministry Secretary Asoka Peiris has notified divisional secretaries early August that ownership of land in the north and east should be re confirmed within two maonths.
While there are many from the north and east who have not returned to their original homes since the government declared its military victory over Tamil Tigers, Minister Rambukwella said, "if there is an issue, we can sort it out later".
Kombavil settlement
Responding to a question why displaced people from several gramasevaka divisions in Mullaithivu including Puthumatalan and Wellimulliwaikal are not allowed to resettle in their traditional homelands, the Cabinet spokesperson, Minister Rambukwella said the decision was based on national security.
The military commander of Mullaithivu has earlier announced plans to permanently settle IDPs from the final war zone in a newly cleared jungle in Kombavil instead of their original hometowns.
National security
“If there are places needed for government use, crucial to the national security and dangerous for public to re-settle, the government will not permit people to settle in those areas,” said Minister Rambukwella .
The Tamil National Alliance has accused the government of preventing people returning to their respective villages in a bid to cover up war crimes.
Meanwhile, UN chief in Sri Lanka who met journalists to celebrate the world humanitarian day in Colombo on Thursday, refused to comment on plans to settle residents of the final war zone in a different location.
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