Reference certain news items which appeared in local newspapers on the above matter, it is correct that three committees are to be formed to address issues of agricultural land belonging to the Muslim community in the Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts of the Eastern Province. The Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process wishes, however, to clarify the situation further.

At the second meeting of peace talks in Thailand, an agreement was reached on a working arrangement between Hon. Rauf Hakeem and Mr. Muralidaran alias Karuna to address issues relating to the occupation of agricultural land belonging to Muslims and areas of mutual concern in the Eastern Province. An elaborative description of the understanding was reported in the press release issued during the talks from Rose Garden Resort, Thailand on 01 November 2002 under the title “Agreed measures to improve the security situation in the East”.

In pursuance of the above, at the fifth meeting of the peace talks in Berlin, it was agreed to establish three committees, one in each district of the Eastern Province to address the issues mentioned earlier. It must be emphasized that these committees are meant specifically to address issues relating to ownership of occupied agricultural land belonging to Muslims and to facilitate the return of such land. The process of establishing ownership and related issues is expected to begin immediately on the understanding that these lands will be returned to their legal owners after the current harvest season.

It is due to the mandate of these committees that no Sinhalese members have been appointed to them. However, it has been agreed at the meeting in Berlin that similar committees will be appointed to address such issues relating to other communities, as and when required.