In an attempt to coax the voters in the North before the upcoming presidential elections, President Rajapaksa distributed some 20,000 families with land claiming they were handed over to the beneficiaries through title deeds when in fact they are only land permits.
Sumanthiran
Reporting on the President’s three-day visit to the North where he re-opened the railway line to Jaffna, local media has published that some 20,000 displaced families have received title deeds of lands. However, sources claim these lands have not awarded by title deeds but through permits under the Land Development Ordinance backed by Ranbima Grants – a scheme of issuing ownership documents under Section 19(4) of the Land Development Ordinance to members of the Farmers’ Class.
TNA MP MA Sumanthiran commenting on the distribution of land to the 20,000 displaced families told Colombo Telegraph that the entire process adopted in handing over these lands is flawed.
He pointed out the Constitution demands that the Provincial Council should recommend to the President to alienate land but that it has not been followed in handing over these lands to the 20,000 beneficiaries. He also pointed out that these families have been selected to receive these lands several years ago and the delaying of the process has made it evident that these actions are mere election bribes.
MP Sumanthiran’s comment is further confirmed through the letter written to the President by Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran, explaining the reasons that led to the Board of Ministers and the Chairman of the NPC boycotting the special district meeting presided by the President.
The CM had pointed out the distribution of lands is a dubious process since no permission had been sought and neither had he been made aware of the scheme, despite him being the Provincial Minister in charge of lands.
Read more on the Land Grab here
ajith / October 14, 2014
Tamils are no longer false in to these election tricks and gimmics by Mahinda Rajapakse who is the murderer of over 40,000 Tamils and another 100000 disappeared who surrendered to Sinhala military. He is not only trying to cheat Tamils but also Sinhalese and Muslims as well. He fears that he will have face Sri Lankan justice for what he did to the people and the nation. People should unite together to punish this monster.
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Lapatiya / October 14, 2014
ajith,
That is why Govt. Ministers call him as “Mayaratna”
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Dinuk / October 15, 2014
Mahinda Jarapassa should have give back the land and properties of Jaffna people in Palaley who are displaced by the military land grab.
Indeed, all land grabbed by the Rajapaksa family and the military – army, navy and air force – which is pretty much the entire COASTLINE of the northeast should be returned to their rightful owners.
Mahinda Jarapassa is a cruel military dictators who likes to play GOD for an audience of Sinhala Modayas..
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Robert.R / October 14, 2014
I look fwd to the attacks by OTC/mechanic/eusense , siva sharma (us Thamizh guy), sumanasekera, jim softy, Senewiratne-Alagaratnam ..etc on Sumanthiran, should be fun to read on a slow news day.
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Fitzpatrick / October 15, 2014
Your life must be so fulfilling and exciting given that is the kind of fun thing you look forward to !
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Robert.R / October 15, 2014
Of course Fitzpatrick, you enjoy reading some comments and I do some others.
All are given an opportunity to read/write on this site colombo telegraph. That’s freedom of expression which is so important.
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Native Vedda / October 15, 2014
Robert.R
“That’s freedom of expression which is so important.”
Of coure you are right however don’t you think most of us enjoy right to freedom of expression to expose our own stupidity?
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Robert.R / October 15, 2014
I agree completely.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.
That’s why I love these comments from the contributors.
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Native Vedda / October 16, 2014
Fitzpatrick
If it is fun thing we all love to be part of it, don’t you?
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thondamannar / October 14, 2014
Robert R…. the full moon has already passed. Yet why do you behave in this manner?
Any other cosmic effects?
Get on to that yal devi for a relax ride & praise the Indian ruppee.
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Peace Lover / October 14, 2014
well dont count on K A Sumanasekera to write as he is busy today
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Piranha / October 14, 2014
Only permits and not title deeds?
Is this the biggest fraud done by Mahinda Rajapaksa so far on the people of Sri Lanka?
Does he think he can fool the tamils like he fools the sinhalese? The tamil people will give their verdict in the presidential elections and it will be too late for Rajapaksa.
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Fitzpatrick / October 15, 2014
It takes a Tamil to fool Tamils, because no one else can sink down to the same levels of utter idiocy to communicate effectively with them.
And fooled they are, 100% of the time – by myth makers, terrorists, these so called leaders..
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Native Vedda / October 16, 2014
Fitzpatrick
Sorry bear with me I am bit thick.
What is the point of your comment if there is one?
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aratai / October 14, 2014
.
I hope Presidential elections are held every 2 years….then more buses, more trains, more scooters, more lands every 2 years…….
Who cares the Govt follow the system or not?
:-)
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Ram / October 14, 2014
It wouldn’t be voter bribery if carried out by Wigneswaran. who was put forward as the ‘common candidate’ not long ago. Funny that.
The land handed over is State Land, and it is right that it was handed over to the landless by the highest State official, and NOT by an uncooperative, and antagosistic local functionary.
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Fitzpatrick / October 15, 2014
Well said Ram. Wiggy is like the petulant little dickhead I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with at some point on the playground: you know the one, gets clean bowled, throws a tantrum, smashes the stumps, picks up the bat and ball and goes home in a huff when he doesn’t get special treatment. And then starts crying when he’s not invited to future matches.
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Native Vedda / October 16, 2014
Fitzpatrick
“I’m sure we’ve all had to deal with at some point on the playground:”
So you haven’t grown up yet.
Still thinking about those ice lolly days,……….. it depends on how one gets clean bowled, was the umpire safe if he didn’t give a clean out considering your bullying attitude towards other commentators?
Grow up.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 15, 2014
Ranbima Grants have been the only way the poor Dalits in rural areas have got the luxury of having a piece of land in their birth place Srilanka.
20,000 such inhabitants in Killinochchi receiving these plots is a beautiful outcome and an occasion which warrants celebration, and have a drink at the GFH with the NGOs.
Caring, Fair minded Peace Lovers would have thought Vellala Party MP Abraham put his Christian values first, before playing petty politics.
Specially considering these poor inhabitants became displaced by serving the interests of the people who now live in Mansions with Air Conditioning and even backyard Pools.
Hopefully President will do the same in Mullative, Nanthikadal, Pudduthikuruppu, and Mannar before the Election.
These people won’t have the assurance of receiving these lands, when the TNA, UNP, JVP alliance comes to power through their CC.
Why?.
Because they have to get permission from the CM, according to MP Abraham..
Now we can understand why Vellala CM boycotted the Ranbima Handover Celebrations.
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aratai / October 15, 2014
.
Who cares? I the end 20,000 Tamils got land, another few got free scooters, and brand new rails and buses.
All this is to beat the TNA…
As long as TNA opposes the Govt., Govt will bribe the people to get votes.
If TNA supports the Govt (as Douglas), then Govt gives perks to just supporting MP’s.
I think Vellala TNA brain is smarter than Hambantota Dalit brain!
:-)
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Native Vedda / October 15, 2014
aratai
“I think Vellala TNA brain is smarter than Hambantota Dalit brain!”
Is that why VP won the war for MR?
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aratai / October 15, 2014
.
VP, not just won the war for MR, VP elected him as the President too.
:-)
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Peace Lover / October 15, 2014
are you jealous that you didnt get any lands for your next scheme athal sumane?
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 15, 2014
P. Lover, It is more like your Vellala mates who are pissed off..
Otherwise how can your Christian MP mate Mr Abraham make that stupid comment that the Govt didn’t get permission from the Vellala CM to hand over Government land.
And he goes on to say that Ranbima Titles are not legit…
Doesn’t he know the difference between the freehold titles which people get when they buy land, and the Land gifted by the Government to poor and the less privileged inhabitants.
Just imagine what the scenario will be when your UNP CC hands over the Govt land to Vellala TNA..
Dalits will have to work as bonded labourers like in the past, cultivating crops on Diaspora owned Estates and maitain Fairways and Greens in Diaspora built Golf Courses…
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BBS Rep / October 15, 2014
No doubt this land distribution is an election ‘Gundu’.
My advice is take the land but vote with your brain.
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observer / October 15, 2014
Are the separatists so blind that they can’t see their hypocrisy, their own power seeking political machinations? The Tamils seem to be unable to see themselves being led into the same TULF-LTTE-IPKF-LTTE cycle all over again. The same old wild promises of ‘freedom’.
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Dr Romesh Senewiratne-Alagaratnam / October 15, 2014
How is giving land to Tamil families, who have been waiting years for it, be a “land grab”?
There is no doubt that the Rajapaksas are seeking to get political mileage out of the reopening of the Yal Devi railway, giving land permits to 20,000 families, paying compensation to 1,200 families in Kilinochchi and returning the LTTE bank’s gold (though one wonders how much has gone elsewhere).
The president’s three day visit to Jaffna is obviously designed to win votes – that’s what politicians are most concerned about.
If the TNA works more cooperatively with the Colombo government, though, it may be able to get title deeds as well as land permits for the people it shares government over. If it is confrontational with the Rajapaksas they will react by shutting the TNA out of decision-making, which is not in the interests of the Tamil people who voted the TNA into office. In my opinion the TNA should try and work constructively with whichever government is in office in Colombo.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 15, 2014
Looks like the TNA Vellalas already got the jitters.
Mavai Senathiraja, head honcho of the TNA Vellala clan now says it was the Vellala Wiggie’s call ( Boycott ) totally.
He knows nothing about it because he was in London…
Is he passing the buck?.
.
Or are they going to hang him out to dry….
Put simply, Vellala CM didn’t have a clue about politics. LTTE Rump both with in an outside the Vellala Camp, didn’t want him.
By worshipping Prabakaran and calling him a Hero , CM got a reprieve.
But he hasn’t delivered either for the LTTE Rump or the Dalits in the North.
Rajapaksa in contrast has become the new pin up boy of the Dalits.
Free land now, to top up teaching jobs, army positions and good schools, how can the Dalits turn a blind eye and bend over to the Vellalas who didn’t even spend that LKR One Billion which was earmarked for the Dalits welfare…
This must be the first time since Elara that the Dalits are being looked after in a decent manner.
All one has to do is look at the photos in the latest print of TamilNet, which carries Prez’s visit on the front page…
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Peace Lover / October 15, 2014
your a disgusting fellow K A Sumansekeraya to look at Tamilnet which is equal to Rajpal Daily Noise fit to be used at loo rolls!
now my suspicion is becoming more confirmed that your a closet worshiper of the striped kind who are now extinct!
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Native Vedda / October 16, 2014
Peace Lover
K.A Sumanasekera is indeed a secret admirer of VP.
See Karava Revolutionary Velupillai Prabhakaran the founder leader of the LTTE at this link below:
http://karava.org/karava_timeline
Probably K.A Sumanasekera is running the above karava.org website from Karava diaspora funding.
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Estate Labourer / October 15, 2014
Look here! What the TNA and the Tamils in the North want is Devolution, period. But the Government is not prepared to give that. The Tamil people DO NOT want the GOSL to develop the North for them. They want the elected provincial council to do it for them. You Modayas never seem to understand this!
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kris / October 15, 2014
These idiots were blaming previously that Govt grab their lands now blaming that Govt is giving land to them
What soft of F….ers are these people
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Fitzpatrick / October 15, 2014
These are the same people who complained that Tamils were being “locked up and exterminated in concentration camps”. But the people were resettled and the camps were shut down, much to their disappointment. And the complaints changed accordingly. Now it was “people should have been allowed to stay in the camps and sometimes there are scary snakes outside !”
As long as they can fool Tamils they’ll keep doing the same thing.
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Native Vedda / October 16, 2014
Fitzpatrick
“As long as they can fool Tamils they’ll keep doing the same thing.”
Those who voted for the parties which promised many fancy things. Certainly the one about eight measures of free grain imported all the way from moon did the trick, landslide victory for the party. On the other hand Tamils voted for the Tamil parties.
Now you have provided me with framework to compare both stupid people.
Go play cricket for eight measure of free grains.
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Native Vedda / October 15, 2014
kris
“What soft of F….ers are these people”
They the same sort of F….ers you mostly find among the Sinhala/Buddhists as you know both share the same stupid South Indian gene.
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kris / October 16, 2014
They the same sort of [Edited out] you mostly find among the Sinhala/Buddhists as you know both share the same stupid South Indian gene.
Veddo
From where your gene come ? South Indians? or from Red Indians ?
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Native Vedda / October 16, 2014
kris
“From where your gene come ?”
From my mother and father.
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kris / October 17, 2014
Veddo
From where your mother and father come from? South india?
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Native Vedda / October 17, 2014
kris
“From where your mother and father come from? South india?”
Both were born in this island. There are clear evidence that their ancestors have lived in this island for more than 32000 years.
The Sinhala/Buddhists and their Tamil brethren also have unearthed evidences to prove their ancient voyages from South/North India by Kallathonies.
If you don’t agree with me please check your DNA you might find evidence either Morrocan or Portuguese gene or affinity with those people.
Ibn Battuta had several wives, concubines, mistresses, children everywhere he visited. He visited this island in 1344. Vasco da Gama the Portuguese explorer too visited this island so were many others from East and West.
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kris / October 22, 2014
Veddo
Are you trying to rewrite SL history , Your grand grand parents are Vijay and Kuveni, Vijey from India and kuveni from devil tribe
Can’t you remember your cousins Jeewahatta and Disala
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Citizen / October 15, 2014
Distribution of some 20,000 families with land is another election gimmick. He is trying to cheat not only the Tamils, but also the international community. What is the guarantee these lands will not be taken by the Military on various pretexts soon after the election.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 15, 2014
TNA MP Abraham’s quip here is lame in comparison to the UNP Deputy Sec, one Akila Kariyawasam..
He says the President gave Dalits “the Gold” which belongs to Vellalas..
That is the only conclusion an intelligent person can make from his stupid statement that the Gold belonged to other people.
Wouldn’t the “other people” tell Abraham to include that as theft and file a court case against the Prez when these pawned lots had clear IDs.
And Abraham appears free of charge for even JVPers nowadays..
And TNA is supposed to be totally in charge of the Vellalas..
UNP may be the party of the Intelligentsia, But they are being lead by dumb asses like this Akila…..
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 15, 2014
6700 acres of private land was stolen by the State in Valikamam north. More may have been stolen in other areas. How much land in total was returned to the 20,000 individuals? How much of this was the heriditory land acquired from persons who are living abroad now?
Why is permission mandatory now for foreign passport holders, including Tamils living abroad, to visit the north? Is the north not a part of a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka, it is claimed to be? Is it a war zone yet? Is it going to be made into a war zone soon?
All foreign passport holders, including northern Tamils, are required from now to obtain a visa to visit Sri Lanka. Why additional special requirements for the north?
Would such stupid acts make the Tamils living in the north- quite a number of whom sustain their lives with remittances from their near and dear abroad- support and sing hossana for this government or prevent them passing information on what is happening in the north to their relatives and contacts aroad?
Something is very fishy! Something serious is being cooked in the State kitchens!
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dev / October 15, 2014
The president is simply fulfilling his promise to make this country the Wonder of Asia !
Jokes aside, is it to do with the ongoing UN investigations? or possibly …
I suspect it is either to do mass scale voter fraud in the upcoming election in Jan 2015.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / October 15, 2014
Dev,
You are probably right. Thinking on the subject further, I too felt the UNHRC inquiry has something to do with this, at least partly. The government is trying to prevent anyone coming into record evidence. However, the horses have bolted from the barn, years back. The belated and sinister decision to cover up the result and not resolve the root cause is typical of this government and will only prove counter productive as usual.
Dr.RN
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 16, 2014
Dr Narendran,
20,000 Plots is 800,000n perch based on average 40 perch blocks which the Govt normally gives under Ranbima.
Just imagine how much a a 40 perch block in Wellala Gardens nowadays?..
Still 40 perch in Pudduthikurrpu for a Dalit family is a lot..
Specially if these are backing on to the beach. like the ones around Kalpitiya Lagoon.
Our Colombo Elite are buying them in Kalpitiya at LKR 100,000 a perch,to build holiday pads although the buyers would not have freehold to them.
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Truth / October 18, 2014
K.A.S has proved beyond doubt that he is a paid commentator!! He just have to write something to defend his criminal boss.
You did not realise how stupid you are! If you think that the value of the 40 perch land is a boon for these people, you should have realised how much these people have lost when your criminal boss have stolen their houses and farmlands which they owned for generations!! They did not steal from anyone or your criminal boss did not give it to them free. They have been living in refugee camps and huts for years just because the criminals wanted this space for the murderous, rapist, criminals in uniform!! The jewelry the criminal distributed with a lot ado is not his. It is a minute quantity he stole from the people.
You cannot fool the people all the time. You are jealous of the people who sold their property in Jaffna. The property belonged to them for generations. They built it with their hard earned money. It is not a gift from your criminal boss.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 16, 2014
Dr Narendran,
Do you have or know the people who have the deeds to this 6700 acres.
I mean even in Valikaman , it is worth serious money, when some of my friends sold their Jaffna properties recently and bought nice Apartments in Wellala Gardens and still had some left overs.
Was this a private company growing Pamyrah and coconuts ?
Was it a cattle farm?..
I mean I can’t get my head around such a massive land holding in such a small Island.
My Elders tell me that the inhabitants in the South can hold only 50 acres max……
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Native Vedda / October 15, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
“Thinking on the subject further, I too felt the UNHRC inquiry has something to do with this, at least partly.”
UNHRC is sitting on a mount of evidence, visiting North could be just a formality.
There is no such thing as a perfect crime.
However the outcome of the investigation would be shaped by political decision/discretion.
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K.A Sumanasekera / October 16, 2014
Dear Native ,
Your guess is right on the money.
Why do you think Mr Cameron summoned your mate Ranil for urgent talks with the GTF Reverend and his Deputy?.
The political decision you have been on about would be on the following lines.
* Give LTTE Proxy Sambandan the North ,as soon as the Election is concluded. and the East later.
* Cameron , Harper duo will then pull back the Pillai Police Team.
The Duo have to show some sort of amiability, Don’t they?.
Otherwise the Army Commanders aren’t going to take it lying down if Ranil has to hand over the brave soldiers to Ms Pillai who may become the special prosecutor..
Rajapaksas even may get a reprieve , like a good behaviour bond , where they can’t do politics until Ranil completes his natural term of life..
Your new boss Mavia Senathiraja also attended the tripartite talks in London according to our Presiden’ts speech which was reported in CT’s sister publication, Colombo Gazette…
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Thanga / October 16, 2014
Out of 300,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in 2009, there are about 90,000 IDPs still waiting resettlement in the Northeast. 89,000 war widows have been left in the lurch. There is no word about hundreds of Tamil surrendees who disappeared after arrest by the army. In Valikaamam North over 19,000 IDPs displaced in 1990 are waiting resettlement. A total of 6382 acres of land have been forcibly appropriated by the army to build bases, cantonments, hotels, health resorts, swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses for the use of the army.
A total of 848 families displaced during 2006 in Muttur in the eastern province have not been resettled in their homes. The army has grabbed 10,000 acres of their land to construct a Naval base and build a coal-fired a Thermal Plant in Sampur. 500 acres have been earmarked to construct this plant. The displaced people have vowed to destroy their ballot papers if they are not given their land back. Thus Mahinda Rajapaksa has nothing but contempt for these hapless people.
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Peace Lover / October 16, 2014
well we can all see that the mere mention of land or real estate gets our friend K A Sumansekera very horny indeed as lands and houses are very dear to him (for those who know the LEE POTTER SCAM!),just look at the no of comments this article alone from our vellala loving buddy K A Sumanasekera
Athal Sumane is like a teenager in front of a topless pin up model at the mere mention of lands and houses such is his enthusism!
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Saroja / October 16, 2014
Hon. Sumanthiran MP
Please explain where was the gold jewelleries were hoarded when it was recovered from Tamil areas?
When it was discovered by state forces, where were they taken?
Why it was not produced in any courts of law?
Who accounted for all deposits of jewellery and valuables?
Where is the rest?
When and where will they be distributed?
How dare the President distribute people’s own jewellery after 5 years of war without any accountability?
What are the other property of the people are with President Mahinda?
Can all be returned like the Tsunami fund embezzled by President Mahinda himself?
SK
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