Sections of Tamil Diaspora and some interested parties might cry over what they called excess number of troops in Jaffna but those who were supposed to represent the public were most of the time living in Colombo while the army was helping the people of Jaffna, Commander Security Forces Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe told villagers of Achchuveli North and Achchuveli Colony on Saturday (29).Attending two functions to hand over two houses constructed by the Army to their new owners, Commander SF-J said that the Army was not there to grab civilians’ properties but for their protection and to help the peace-loving people.”We have reduced troop presence considerably and most of the civilians’ houses and lands occupied by troops are being handed back to their owners. The army has so far built 1,778 permanent houses for the homeless in Jaffna. In my opinion, the number of troops present is immaterial. What matters is the community service they do for the improvement of Jaffna and its people. We hope to hand over the remaining few houses back to owners by the end of this year,” Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe said.Ceremonies had been organised by the 511 Brigade at Achchuveli to hand over the two houses, one to Mr. A. Jeganathan, a father of three at Achchuveli North and the other to Mr. Devadas Sudarshan, a father of four at Achchuveli Colony. Soldiers of the 5th Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry (5 SLLI) and the 3rd Battalion Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (3 VIR) constructed the houses worth Rs. 300,000 each.General Officer Commanding 51 Division Brigadier Chandana Gunawardane, Divisional Secretary Kopay M. Pratheepan, Commander 511 Brigade Colonel Wijendra Gunathilake, Commander 512 Brigade Colonel Ajith Pallawala, Commander 3 VIR Lieutenant Colonel W. B. Panditha, Commander 5 SLLI Lieutenant Colonel G. A. L. Kithsiri and villagers were present on the occasions.