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- Twenty Years since the Expulsion: Northern Muslims and the Commission Process
- “Why now”: A response to queries regarding the relevance of the Commission Process at this historical moment
- Stickers Commemorating 20th Anniversary of Expulsion
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Commission Sittings
Commission Sittings were organized in keeping with the need to cover the issues that were identified as important in the terms of reference. Therefore one sitting each was conducted in Colombo and Negombo to give in those areas a chance to meet with the Commission. The rest of the sittings were held in Puttalam where a large percentage of the Northern Muslims resides in displacement for close to twenty years, and in selected areas in the North. The Commission Process consisted of sittings conducted with the participation of at least one Commissioner. These included visits to Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya and Negombo, where displaced communities had settled as well as to Mananr, Ki linochchi and Jaffna where Northern Muslims had returned to. Mullaitiwu was also on our list of places to visit but we could not do the visit due to the delays in getting security clearance. Altogether 35 sittings were conducted in the above mention places. The table below will provide greater details on the commission sittings and the issues covered.
Date of the Sitting |
Location |
Participating Commissioners |
Participating community |
Issues Discussed |
30.09.2009 |
SEDEC Colombo |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Gameela Samarasighe, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Dr. M.S.M. Anes and Mr. Javid Yusuf |
25 northern Muslims from Colombo |
First sitting of the commission. The expulsion experience in Jaffna and Mannar as well as resettlement possibilities were discussed |
26.10.2009 |
Al Mannar, Kalpitiya, Puttalam. |
U. L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe |
Members from Al- Mannar Settlement camp & |
IDP issues with host community, expectation to return en masse were discussed |
26.10.2009 |
Alankuda |
U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe |
Approx. 40 IDPs… |
Women under distress, conditions of the camps. |
27.10.2009 |
RDF Office, Palavi, Puttalam |
U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe and Dr. M.S.M. Anes |
Approx. 35 IDPs… |
The expulsion experience of the different districts, Land issues, problems faced during displacement, such as sanitation, health and education |
17.11.2009 |
Nagavilu, Puttalam |
Dr. Cathrin Brun and Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe |
Women from IDP community |
Women’s perspectives on resettlement, the limited participation of women in all the areas of community life , Intense vulnerability of certain women, political bias towards their issues as a community |
17.11.2009 |
Karambe, Puttalam |
Dr. Cathrin Brun and Dr. Gameela Samarasingha |
Women from IDP community |
Women’s issues related to resettlement |
18.11.2009 |
Pulechakulam, Puttalam |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed |
IDPs preparing for the resettlement |
Basic needs and the challenges of resettlement |
Date of the Sitting |
Location |
Participating Commissioners |
Participating community |
Issues Discussed |
18.11.2009 |
Akkaravely, Puttalam |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed |
IDPs preparing for resettlement |
Basic needs and the challenges of resettlement |
18.11.2009 |
ULI Organization, Puttalam |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed |
IDPs preparing for resettlement |
Basic needs and the challenges of resettlement |
18.11.2009 |
Madeena Nagar |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Mr. Javid Yusuf, Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed |
Met Northern Muslim Community in the villages |
Challenges they faced over the resettlement |
20.02.2010 |
Casimiya College, Puttalam |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe, Mr. Javid Yusuf and Dr. M.S.M. Anes. |
Host Community members including Moulavi Abdulla, Women’s group spoke person Ms. Lareefa who helped organize the sitting |
Problems of being hosts for 20 years, ,as education quota, health services and economic problems. |
20.02.2010 |
RDF, Puttalam |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe, Mr. Javid Yusuf and Dr M.S.M. Anes. |
Youth from host and IDP community |
Issues of return, relations between host and IDP communities, employment opportunities for youth in Puttalam. |
20.02.2010 |
Amman Kovil, Puttalam |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah, Dr. Gameela Samarasinghe, Mr. Javid Yusuf and Dr M.S.M. Anes. |
Meeting with the Kovil Kurukkal |
Discussing the matters of Muslims, IDPs and the Tamil community relationships |
09.03.2010 |
Jaffna GA office, Osmaniya College, Bommaveli Housing Scheme |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah |
Jaffna GA Mr. K. Ganesh, Mr. M.S.A.M. Mukthar Principal , |
Resettlement process and monitoring the school |
09.03.2010 |
People’s Secretariat, Jaffna |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah |
Meeting with Resettled Men |
Resettlement processes |
10.03.2010 |
Nalluru Kandasamy Kovil, Jaffna Naga Vihara, Bishop House and Jaffna University |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah |
Kovil Gurukkal, Naga Vihara High Priest and Bishop including Secretary of the People’s Council of Peace and Fisheries Officer, Vice Chancellor of University |
Monitoring the resettlement process and issues related to fishing and the University Enrolment |
10.03.2010 |
People’s Secretariat, Jaffna |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah |
Meeting with Resettled women |
Women’s issues and land issues related to resettlement |
Date of the Sitting |
Location |
Participating Commissioners |
Participating community |
Issues Discussed |
11.03.2010 |
Chavekachcheri, Jaffna |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Devanesan Nesiah |
Chavekachcheri Jummah Mosque Priest Nilafdeen |
Regarding resettlement |
24.03.2010 |
Musali, Musali DS Office, Nannathan, Madhu Church, Mannar Mosque |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Musali DS, Nannathan Muslims |
Monitoring the resettlement process and the response of the State |
24.03.2010 |
Musali, Mannar |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Koolankulam village |
Hearings of those who participated |
24.03.2010 |
Errukkalampidy, Mannar |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Errukkalampiddy returnees |
Problems related to resettlement |
25.03.2010 |
Nannathan, Mannar |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Rasool Puduveli Returnees |
Grievances of participants |
25.03.2010 |
Mannar GA Office and Mannar Bishop House |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Mannar GA, Mannar Bishop |
Problems related to resettlement |
25.03.2010 |
Moor Street, Mannar |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Moor Street Resettled Individuals |
Problems related to resettlement |
25.03.2010 |
Uppukulam, Mannar |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Uppulukam Returnees |
Problems related to resettlement |
26.03.2010 |
Thallady, Manthai West, Vattakkandal and Vidathaltheevu |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Army Commander Cornel Ariyaratne |
Security matters of resettlement and visiting the northern Muslim villages on the way |
05.05.2010 |
Vavuniya |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Mullaitivu and Vavuniya GA |
About the on going resettlements and visited few resettled villages |
05.05.2010 |
Kilinochchi |
Dr. Devanesan Nesiah and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Kilinochchi GA |
About the on going resettlements and visited few resettled villages |
06.06.2010 |
Periyamulla, Negombo |
Mr. U.L. Abdul Majeed, Ms. Chulani Kodikara, Dr. Nimalka Fernando, Dr. Anes and Dr. Gameela Samarasingha |
Displaced and Host individuals including youth groups from all the communities and the Puttalam Kovil Gurkkal. |
Land issues and the difficulties in claiming compensation |
Date of the Sitting |
Location |
Participating Commissioners |
Participating community |
Issues Discussed |
12.06.2010 |
ULI Organization, Puttalam |
Dr. Nimalka Fernando and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Women’s Group from IDP Community |
The need for the resettlement and their feelings of the native land, issues of resettlement including less protection, far –away schools and the health hazards |
12.06.2010 |
ISRC, Nuraichcholai |
Dr. Nimalka Fernando and Ms. Chulani Kodikara |
Women’s activists from IDP community |
Problems faced by women during the resettlement |
18.06.2010 |
Vavuniya |
Dr. Nimalka Fernando and Mr. Javid Yusuf. |
Resettled Individuals from Vavuniya |
Regarding Resettlement |
18.06.2010 |
Nachchikuda, Kilinochchi |
Dr. Nimalka Fernando and Mr. Javid Yusuf. |
Resettled individuals in Nachchikuda |
Problems they face after resettling |
19.06.2010 |
Salampakulam, Kilinochchi |
Dr. Nimalka Fernando and Mr. Javid Yusuf. |
Resettled individuals in Salampakulam |
Issues regarding resettlement and the state responses |
18.08.2010 |
Vanathavillu Bandaranayakepura Temple |
Project Manager Farazana Haniffa and Commission Staffs |
Discussion with Buddiyagama Chandranando Thero |
Their experience of the Northern Muslim arrivals in 1990 as a separate community and the out look of the resettlement |