Over 18,000 Acres Released to Jaffna Civilians

The Sri Lanka Army released over 18,000 acres of lands in the Jaffna district since 2009 to the people with the dawn of permanent peace, Army Media Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said.
   
He was addressing the media at the Media Centre of the Defence and the Urban Development Ministry.

"During the humanitarian operation, the Army had taken over these lands mainly for setting up Army camps. However, after liberating the country from the clutches of the LTTE, the Army had been gradually releasing these lands, on which Army camps were setup," he said.

According to him, 18,248 acres of land have been released by the Army so far ( 4,379 acres in 2009, 6,652 in 2010, 5,817 in 2011, 785 in 2012, 410 in 2013, 201 in 2014).

"Army camps and other small units set up on these lands have been removed," he said.

The Brigadier added that six acres of land where the Achchuveli Army camp stood will be released probably within the next two months after establishing infrastructure facilities for the troops occupying the camp.

He said a majority of the Security Forces' camps have been established on government own lands and on lands used by LTTE for their camps.

"The Army will release those lands to the AGA of the respective area and the AGA will distribute those to the original owners. The land distribution process is solely with the AGA of the respective area," Army Media Director General Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera said. He said that no private lands have been taken over by the Army to set up camps in other districts in the North and East except the Jaffna district. (Courtesy: Daily News)