[2012-05-07
16:27:55]
A
team of members representing US Department of State and USAID
met Commander Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda
Hathurusinghe at Headquarters SF-J in Palaly on Monday (06) morning.
Regional
Refugee Coordinator from the office of Population, Refugees and
migration, US Department of State Ms. Amanda Jacobsen, Regional
Advisor for South Asia Ms. Andrea Tracy and Disaster Assistance
Officer of USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance in the
USA along with two other officials met the SF-J Commander to get
themselves updated about the security situation and development
programmes in post-conflict Jaffna. Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe during
his presentation highlighted the Army’s commitment to upgrading
living standard of needy families in Jaffna through various community-based
projects.
Special attention
was paid by the visiting officials on livelihood projects such
as crab fattening and aloe Vera farming initiated by the Headquarters
SF-J for reintegrated Ex-LTTE combatants in Kayts and Vadamarachchi
areas.
Army’s commitment
towards promoting life standard of civilians was appreciated by
the US officials.
“Army is
reducing its troops in Jaffna as the civil administration is now
in effect in Jaffna under a Government Agent and Army is gradually
reducing the troops further in future,” said Jaffna Commander.
The visiting
US officials were briefed on accelerated de-mining in the peninsula
has completed more that 98% of affected lands and removing mines
in the remaining areas, mainly former FDL along Nagarkovil and
Muhamalai has become little difficult due to unprecedented number
of mines scattered in the area by the LTTE during their dominance
in those areas.
Subsequently,
they set for Jaffna to continue with their itinerary.
