<b>Defence Secretary Orders Army to vacate all private houses </b>

T.Sabaratnam

Colombo July 21: Defence Secretary Austin Fernando today ordered the army to vacate all private houses they occupy, by August 2, as stated in the ceasefire agreement and to stop immediately the felling palmyrah trees.

Jaffna Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka said that, the army has to vacate from only sixty houses and they would do so before the end of this month. He said felling of coconut and palmyrah would cease forthwith.

The army was charged with felling down palmyrah trees to build bunkers.

Fernando who toured the Jaffna peninsula for two days, on a directive from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, inspected the outlying areas of the high security zones in Valikamam and Thenmarachchi, to see whether refugees from those areas could be permitted to return to their homes. Refugees from Valikamam had requested the government to be allowed to resume cultivation in their farms. Most of the displaced refugees were farmers and they own agricultural lands withing the high security zone.

“I will submit my report to the Prime Minister, when he returns from US and the decision would be his,” Fernando said.

He received representation from the public at a conference he presided at Chavakachcheri Hindu College, this morning. Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle and Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri were also present.

“We want the refugees to get back to their homes. We want to stabilize the situation gradually. Please bear with us,” the defence secretary said. “When permanent peace returns army presence will cease,” he added.