By Easwaran Rutnam A key discussion held last week between President Maithripala Sirisena and the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) failed to reach a consensus on key issues related to the Tamils in the North. The meeting last week was a follow-up to a discussion held between the TNA and the President two weeks prior. The TNA had sought to meet with the President and did so two weeks ago to discuss several issues related to the North. At the meeting, they discussed the occupation of private land in the North by the Army and several other issues. The President had then promised to have another meeting on 28 August with the relevant officials and the TNA to look to resolve the issues. However, the meeting on the 28th got off to a bad start, according to TNA parliamentarians at the discussion. The President was irked that TNA Leader R. Sampanthan was not at the discussion, The Sunday Morning learnt. The meeting was attended by TNA Parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah and a few other TNA MPs. Sampanthan, TNA Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran, and TNA MPs Dharmalingam Siddharthan and E. Saravanapavan were absent. TNA MP S. Sritharan, who attended the meeting, told The Sunday Morning that even he was not aware at the time as to why the TNA Leader did not attend the key discussion. He said that he had gone prepared with a lot of information that he planned to discuss, but found that it was pointless. “The President did not seem interested in the meeting anymore even though he had instructed several officials and the military to be present. He had a brief meeting and left,” Sritharan said. The Tamil MP said that the release of land occupied by the Army in the North was to be the main focus of the meeting. Ministry of Defence Secretary Major Gen. Shantha Kottegoda, Jaffna Army Commander Major Gen. Ruwan Wanigasooriya, and Northern Province Governor Dr. Suren Rāghavan were among those who attended the meeting. National security first The President’s Office said that the President had instructed the relevant officials at the meeting to take steps to release lands while ensuring national security is given priority. The President instructed the officials to carry out a survey on the extent of land which needed to be released after consulting the security forces, and submit a report before 1 October to the Governor of the Northern Province. “The President further stated that everyone should be aware that army checkpoints and camps are prerequisites to ensure national security. The Easter Sunday terror attacks highlighted the importance of this measure, said the President, while adding that security camps should be in place for the security of the area and its population. Measures to release lands which are not strategically important to national security will be expedited and issues related to this process can be resolved through discussion,” the President’s Office quoted the President as saying. He had also said that if the acquisition of private lands is required for security purposes, then compensation should be paid to the owners without any delay. The military said that so far, 80.98% of state lands and 90.73% of private lands acquired by the Army during the armed conflict have been released.

He said that the President had left the meeting room after commencing the talks last week and the discussion had continued with the Army, government officials, and the TNA. Sritharan said that there were instances where heated words were exchanged as it seemed the military was not ready to release some land

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Director – Operations Brig. R.P.D.U. Rajapaksha told The Sunday Morning that while most private land in the North had been released, not all camps can be closed. He also said that the military cannot be completely withdrawn from the North as demanded by some. Rajapaksha said that it was essential to maintain troops in the North like in any other part of the country to ensure national security. Talks just to buy time TNA MP Sritharan said that the President had given several assurances on previous occasions and deadlines by when land would be released, yet those assurances were not met. He said that the President had left the meeting room after commencing the talks last week and the discussion had continued with the Army, government officials, and the TNA. Sritharan said that there were instances where heated words were exchanged as it seemed the military was not ready to release some land. Concerns over state officials also acquiring private lands in parts of the North had also been raised by the TNA at the meeting. However, Sritharan said that there did not seem to be any attempt by the Government to genuinely address the concerns, so he walked out of the meeting. The TNA had noted at the meeting that the military continued to occupy private lands in five districts in the North.

The President was irked that TNA Leader R. Sampanthan was not at the discussion, The Sunday Morning learnt

The TNA said that at least 72 acres of private land was still being occupied by the military and must be released.