Sri Lanka’s Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Karunasena Hettiarachchi, refused to released land claimed by Tamil villagers, stating that it was needed to build a navy camp for “national security”.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Mr Hettiarachchi said that the land which is currently being occupied by the Sri Lankan navy belongs to the government.
“Before we come to a final decision on this issue we need to consider the fact that the country needs a Navy camp for national security and the people who claim have no appropriate documents,” he said.
When questioned on claims from Tamil villagers that the land belongs to them and should be released, he responded by saying “all what they say is incorrect”.
Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council Kandhaiya Sivagnanam said “the land should be given to the public and not the Sri Lankan Navy”.
“We were not aware of what the government would do with the land occupied by the Sri Lanka Navy in Mullaitivu,” he added. “We know that they will construct a Navy Camp here and we request that the government gives the lands to their legitimate owners.”
Also see our earlier post: Mullaitivu residents call for Navy to release land immediately (17 Jan 2016)
Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Mr Hettiarachchi said that the land which is currently being occupied by the Sri Lankan navy belongs to the government.
“Before we come to a final decision on this issue we need to consider the fact that the country needs a Navy camp for national security and the people who claim have no appropriate documents,” he said.
When questioned on claims from Tamil villagers that the land belongs to them and should be released, he responded by saying “all what they say is incorrect”.
Chairman of the Northern Provincial Council Kandhaiya Sivagnanam said “the land should be given to the public and not the Sri Lankan Navy”.
“We were not aware of what the government would do with the land occupied by the Sri Lanka Navy in Mullaitivu,” he added. “We know that they will construct a Navy Camp here and we request that the government gives the lands to their legitimate owners.”
Also see our earlier post: Mullaitivu residents call for Navy to release land immediately (17 Jan 2016)