by Shamindra Ferdinando

Northern Governor Reginald Cooray on Thursday said that families of LTTE cadres continued to occupy lands which had been seized during the conflict even six years after the conclusion of the war.

Addressing the media at his official residence at Battaramulla, Governor Cooray said that the LTTE, too, had seized land by evicting people. However, today the focus was only on land taken over by the military.

The former parliamentarian pointed out that the LTTE as well as other armed groups had carried out indiscriminate abductions during the conflict though the military was solely targeted.

The Governor said that the military shouldn’t be discriminated against. During the war, the LTTE, too, established high security zones in the Vanni region to protect its runways and key military bases.

President Maithripala Sirisena had recently pointed out that those who had been displaced during the conflict were demanding the return of their land, Governor Cooray said.

The issue of lands seized by the LTTE, too, had to be considered though the focus was now on the military held land, he said.

Explaining the recent handing over of a school that had been occupied by the military for a long time, Governor Cooray said the Navy had facilitated the feast of St. Anthony’s church, Kachchativu several weeks back. The Catholic Church had paid a glowing tribute to the navy for going out of its way to assist the Church. Approximately 8,000 Catholics, including over 3,000 from India participated in the holy mass, Governor Cooray said.

The situation continued to improve, Governor Cooray said, explaining activities planned in the Northern region in view of the Sinhala and Tamil New year and Vesak.

A lot more had to be done to improve living conditions of those living away from main roads network in the Northern Province. The Northerners experienced severe difficulty in obtaining drinking water, the former parliamentarian said, adding that he, too, was compelled to take water from Colombo. “I take water in my vehicle and recently transported some water in train.” However, a section of the media had propagated the lie that a water bowser had been used to provide him with water, the Governor said.

Cooray alleged that the SLFP had lost the support of Tamil speaking people due to ill-conceived policies of the previous government. However, President Maithripala Sirisena had been making a determined effort to improve relations with the Tamil community, Cooray said.

The senior politician attributed the previous SLFP leadership’s policies to the sharp drop in Tamil electorate’s support to the party at the last two national polls. Asked by The Island whether he could explain why the northern Tamil community had overwhelmingly exercised their franchise for war winning Army Chief Gen. Sarath Fonseka in 2010 and Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena, who had acted as Defence Minister during the then President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s absence, Governor Cooray said that the vote didn’t reflect their opinion. The electorate had been largely influenced by politicians, the Governor said. He refrained from commenting on the TNA on behalf of the LTTE directing the northern Tamils to boycott Nov. 2005 presidential polls.

Governor Cooray said the national security shouldn’t be subjected to any terms and conditions. “I’m in constant touch with Security Forces Commander, Jaffna Maj. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake. In fact, I spoke to him over the phone today,” he said on Thursday.

Responding to another query, Cooray said the Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran had never obstructed his work though they differed politically. Cooray succeeded veteran career diplomat H. M. G.S. Palihakkara recently.

Commenting on an incident where he was booed at a meeting Governor Cooray such behaviour reflected their weakness. It would be a mistake on their part to believe they could gain ground by causing mischief, the Governor said.

Courtesy:The Island