UK concerned at military involvement in SL's civilian activities

19 December 2013 01:07 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 20 Bookmark

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Britain said that it is concerned at military involvement in commercial and other civil activities, such as education, tourism, and agriculture, and the occupation of land in high security zones in north of Sri Lanka.

In response to a question Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire told British Parliament, “Though military drawback is evident in some areas, we are concerned at military involvement in commercial and other civil activities, such as education, tourism, and agriculture, and the occupation of land in high security zones. We will continue to raise this issue with members of the Sri Lankan Government, and press the need for the military not to partake in civil activities.”

Speaking about the lands issue in the north of the country, Swire said, “in Sri Lanka, multiple displacements of different groups and individuals have occurred over many years resulting in competing claims on the same land. Our most recent Human Rights Report highlights that there are increased reports of land takeovers in Tamil areas. The Sri Lankan Government have recently given assurances that the military would return some private land in the north within the next few months.”