Military denies allegations by TNA MP

8 February 2011 02:00 pm

The military today denied allegations made by TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah that the military was obtaining money from Jaffna residents, forcing people to pose for family photographs in the Jaffna town and also forcing them to sign various forms in Sinhalese.

Military Spokesman Major General Ubaya Madawela rejected the allegations as baseless. “Every citizen is obliged to register under the police ordinance and not only in Jaffna it is been conducted in places like Gampaha as well as there is a plan to implement a system of electronic identification in the near future”, he said.

TNA MP Senathirajah alleged in his letter that the military is forcing people in the Kilinochchi district to sign forms written in Sinhalese that they do not understand.

He also charged that these actions have caused great fear and panic among the people in the area and such incidents have also been reported in the Irupalai, Kopay and Kalviyankadu areas.

However rejecting the chargers Major Gneral Medawala said they are yet to register people in Jaffna.

“Why should the military make money by asking people to pose for family photographs in public places in the Jaffna town, these allegations are baseless and we totally rejects such claims”, he said.

He also said that the security in Jaffna is in the best hands and the army is doing a remarkable job to ensure the security and provide assistance in development projects in the peninsula.

“The Law and Order in the peninsula is carried out by the police with assistance from the army. However the army is also focused on working in development projects in the area, especially road development projects”, he said. (Supun Dias)