(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka Army complying with the President Maithripala Sirisena’s directive prepares to return over 1,200 acres of lands held by the army in the North to the original owners with no impact to the national security.
The Army said the 1201.88 more acres of Army-used state and private lands in the North will be released on Monday (21) at an event in Mullaitivu presided by the President
The land to be released includes 972 acres of state land in Kilinochchi and 120 acres of state land in Mullaitivu where the Army has been running farms.
Similarly, 46.11 acres of state land in Jaffna and the Wanni and 63.77 acres of private land in Jaffna and the Wanni will also be released at the program in Mullaitivu.
The ceremony to release the scheduled total of 1201.88 acreage, including Nachchikuda, Vellankulam and Udayarkattukulam Army farms is coordinated by the Security Fore Headquarters – Mullaitivu, Office of the Governor for Northern Province, District Secretariats, respective Divisional Secretariats and the Army Directorate of Quartering, Land & Property.
The process to release northern and eastern lands, belonging to civilians and the state that bear no impact on national security needs began last year following a Presidential directive.
Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army promptly responded and instructed accordingly to abide by the Presidential directive with the objective of further promoting gestures of goodwill and reconciliation, the Army said.
