The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Chair, under Standing Order 27(2), to the President and Minister of Defence:

¶ 02 For 35 years, residents from 13 GN Divisions of Valikamam North, Jaffna—displaced on 15 June 1990 due to the Palaly camp, military presence and shelling—remain unable to return, even 15 years after the war ended. Over 2,700 acres in areas including Vasavilan, Kattuvan, Myliddy, Palaly, Kurumbasiddy, Kuppilan, Thayiddy, Urani and Tholagatty remain out of reach. Families still live in camps or with relatives under hardship. Even during the President’s recent visit to Jaffna, Myliddy residents protested for return; the President did not visit. After one year of this Government, no practical resettlement solution is visible.

¶ 03 Questions: 1) Does the Minister know how many families from the 13 GN Divisions remain displaced and unable to return? 2) How many acres remain under the military as “High Security Zones,” and why are they not released? 3) Why is resettlement still prevented 15 years after the war, and what hardships do people face? 4) What actions have been taken in the past year? 5) If any, when will resettlement be possible? 6) If not, why?