30 July, 2007 - Published 12:57 GMT

Sampur HSZ 'sensitive' for judiciary

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has dismissed a petition against High Security Zone (HSZ) recently established in the east.

Chief Justice Sarath N Silva warned the petitioners not to bring such 'sensitive' issues before the judiciary.

The Fundamental Rights (FR) petition was submitted by four residents in Sampur.

If the judiciary grants such petitions to proceed, CJ Silva said, the courts will be flooded with '15,000 more petitions'.

'15,000 more petitions'

The petitioners were also advised to make appeals to the Competent Authority (CA) before seeking judicial remedy.

Eastern Commander, Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya, is the Competent Authority under the Emergency Regulations.

In a Gazzette notification, Sri Lankan government has declared recently captured Sampur as new HSZ.

The petitioners have rerquested the courts to order the authorities to allow them to resettle in their ancestral land.

Sampur, a former Tamil Tiger stronghold, was recaptured by Sri Lankan forces in September, last year.

A councel representing the government said resettlement in Sampur will begin after consulting the military.

The Chief Justice said the government should be given ample time to begin resettlement.