The Supreme Court has directed the Secretary Defence to take immediate steps to interview the displaced persons of Palali in Jaffna, who had indicated their willingness to re-settle on the conditions laid down by the Court.

The Court also directed the Defence Secretary and the District Secretaries of Jaffna to indicate to the Court, the area, in which re-settlement could commence in the Palali High Security Zone and the names of the persons, who would be afforded such facility.

The fundamental rights violation application filed by M. S. Somasunderam Senathirajah, Member of Parliament for the Jaffna District, was called before the Court on May 8, 2006. He had complained that he had been displaced from his property since 1992, due to military activity, and that he wished to resettle in his village, since the initiation of the peace process.

K. Kaneg Ishwaran PC, appeareing for the petitioner, told the Court on May 8, 2006, that 7,456 families had indicated their willingness to resettle on the conditions indicated by the Court. They had submitted in writing their requests to the District Secretaries of Jaffna.

The Court on May 8, 2006 directed that immediate steps be taken to interview these persons who had indicated their willingness, to re-settle on the conditions laid down by the Court and to be satisfied with their bona-fide. The interviews are to be carried out by the District Secretaries and the representatives of the Security Forces, as may be nominated by the Secretary Defence.

The conditions laid down by the Court are that, they would submit themselves for interview by the District Secretary and the representatives of the Security forces to establish their identity, claims to the particular parties of land and other relevant particulars. That they would form into citizens committees and ensure that the Security Forces are in no way imperilled in the area due to any armed or terrorist activity, engage in agricultural and other activities as may be agreed upon between persons re-settling and the relevant authorities. That they will not draw the dry rations provided by the state.