President Mahinda Rajapaksa appointed a 19- member Presidential Task Force for Resettlement, Development and Security in the Northern Province.
The Presidential directive appointing the Task Force dated May 07, 2009 published in the Gazette yesterday (13).
The new Task Force has given the authority to prepare strategic plans, programs and projects to resettle IDPs, rehabilitate and develop economic and social infrastructure of the Northern Province.
Mainly the Task Force is subjected to coordinate activities of the security agencies of the Government in support of resettlement, rehabilitation and development and to liaise with all organizations in the public and private sectors and civil society organizations for the proper implementation of programs and projects.
Senior Presidential Advisor MP Basil Rajapaksa has been appointed as the Chairman of the Task Force while Essential Services Commissioner General S.B.Divarathne will function as the Secretary.
The Task Force consists of Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Finance and Planning Ministry Secretary Sumith Abeysinghe, Resettlement and Disaster Relief Services Ministry Secretary U L M Haldeen, Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry Secretary W.K.K.Kumarasiri, Highways and Road Development Ministry Secretary S.Amarasekera, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary M M C Ferdinando, Land and Land Development Ministry Secretary J R W Dissanayake, Health Care and Nutrition Ministry Secretary Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage, Defence Chief Staff Air Chief Marshal G D Perera, Army Commander Lt.Gen.Sarath Fonseka, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Air Force Commander Air Marshall W D R M J Gunatillake, Inspector General of Police Jayantha Wickremarathne, Director General\Department of Civil Defence Rear Admiral S P Weerasekera, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army\Competent Authority for the Northern Province Maj.Gen.G A Chandrasiri, Former Director General\National Planning Dept. B.Abeygunewardena .
The Task Force is required to complete and report to the President on the completion of the mandate within one year.
D.K