The Prime Minister has acknowledged the important role played by the Minister of Industries and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen in forming the good governance government on 5 February.
โPeople living in these areas should get their native land back. They raised an issue of historical Wilpattu Forest reserve being destroyed by these peopleโ said PM Ranil Wickremasinghe addressing an election campaign meeting in support ofย candidates of the All Ceylonย Makkal Congress contesting LG bodies under UNF. PM Wickremasinghe was addressing the meeting held in Chilavathurai on 5 February who acknowledged the important role played by the Minister Bathiudeen in forming the good governance government.
โRishad strives hard to develop and build Musali area. After you all were evicted by the LTTE, your native place in Musali and Chilavathuraiย was abandoned and it became a forest. Your fertile farm land became a forest. Land in villages became the property of the forest department. People living in these areas should get their native land backโ said PM Wickremasinghe.
โThey raised an issue of historical Wilpattu Forest reserve being destroyed by these people. Hence, Minister Rishad attempted to find a permanent solution to this problem by filing a case in the court of law. Court will give a verdict. After it, your farm land and other land will be returned to you to carry out your normal farming activities freely and happily. Government will take steps to resettle people chased out of Silavathurai then. Silavathurai city will be rebuilt, for which additional land is required. We will hold discussion with the Navy stationed there. Rishad is taking steps to upgrade and develop Silavathurai Hospital and to establish an Industrial zone in Kondachchi. We will take steps to promote tourism, upgrade fishing standard and establish a technical college in Manner. The Government has decided to hold National Milad Unnabi celebrations of the year in Musaliโ concluded PM Wickremasinghe.
Leader of All Ceylon Makkal Congress