Send all party delegation to Jaffna to assess situation, says UNP

Tuesday, 04 January 2011, 13:54 GMT]
Ranil Wickremasinghe, leader of the main opposition United National Party (UNP) Tuesday made an appeal to the Speaker of the Sri Lanka Parliament to take immediate steps to send an all party delegation to the Northern Province to assess the ground situation amid complaints by that people in Jaffna live in fear psychosis due to the rise in abduction, killing extortion by armed gangs. EPDP, one of the Para military groups supporting the government state security machinery, has been accused of encouraging abduction, killing and extortion in Jaffna by civic groups. A recent disclosure of confidential note by a US ambassador revealed that the paramilitaries operate with impunity for criminal acts sanctioned by highest level officials in Colombo.

Wickremasinghe further informed the parliament that he would take up the Jaffna situation in the party leaders meeting to decide on holding a full day debate on the Jaffna situation.

Earlier Jaffna MPs told parliament that the crime rate in Jaffna is on the increase following the end of the war and wanted the government security establishment to take action against criminals involved in kidnapping, robberies and murders that are threatening the civil life in the district.