Tamil Diplomat

No reduction in Military presence in the North: Says Minister of Defense at Palaly

Samakalam
February 7

“ Army camps cannot built on the sea or in the sky. As the army camps are established on land the public will be inconvenienced. The Government will take action to solve these problems. But neither the army camps will be removed nor Force reduction made. “, said the State Minister of Defense, Ruwan Wijewardene, while addressing a gathering of about 3000 Tri-service Military personnel of Jaffna at Palaly.

“ Peace was built up by the sacrifices and devotion of military personnel. The New Government will take action to strengthen National Security. The Military camps constructed to protect Northern and Eastern people as well as the other people will not be removed and military personnel will be reduced” he declared firmly.

“National Security will remain the priority of our government and there is no change in that policy under any circumstances. I say this with responsibility. Members of the Armed Forces should not believe in unfounded rumours and various fabricated stories in relation to security concerns. I assure you that the government would not remove any Army Formations in the peninsula, nor does the government plan to scale down security arrangements”, the Minister told the troops.

“All members of the Security Forces will continue to receive welfare facilities as it is and the dignity your profession deserves. Similarly, steps would be taken to further increase such welfare benefits with new programmes, etc. With the objective of enhancing your professional knowledge, more and more opportunities for various study and vocational courses would be made available while expanding possibilities for new UN openings in foreign capitals, including the one in Haiti”, Mr Wijewardene added.