President Rajapaksa made these remarks addressing a meeting at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute auditorium Sunday (14) to commemorate the 20th year anniversary of the forcible eviction of Muslims from the Northern Province by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The President pointed out to the Non Governmental Organizations involved in helping the displaced to keep in mind the plight of all the displaced people and ensure equal treatment to all affected by the three-decade long war.
"Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims were all affected due to LTTE atrocities. We will treat all equally," the President has said.
He assured the displaced Muslim community that the Government would resettle them in their places of origin with necessary help to lead their lives normally and help them to restore their lost properties.
The President reminded the audience that the LTTE ordered over 70,000 Muslims who were residents of Jaffna to leave the North 20 years ago and since then they have been living in the camps. He said that in addition to the Muslims many Sinhalese families as were also evicted.
The LTTE on October 30, 1990 forcibly expelled the entire Muslim population of about 75,000 from Jaffna giving only two hours to evacuate the city.
The event was organized by the All Ceylon Muslim Congress led by Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiyudeen, who himself was an evicted person from Jaffna.
Minister A. H. M. Fowzie and Rishad Bathiudeen, Deputy Minister M. L. A. M. Hisbullah and MPs A. H. M. Azwer and M Farook, Northern Province Governor Major General G. A. Chandrasiri, US Ambassador Patricia A Butenis, Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha, UAE Ambassador Mahmood Mohammed Al Mahmood, and other representatives from the political and diplomatic community also participated.
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