Identify lands that can be released in the North: President

Relevant government officials have been directed by President Maithripala Sirisena to immediately identify the lands in the Northern Province that could be released for civilian occupation without causing a threat to national security.

The President issued these directives yesterday (28) at a meeting convened under his patronage to discuss the issue of releasing military occupied land in the North.

Sirisena noted that the government had taken many steps to return private and state lands that were occupied by the military at the time the war ended, back to its original residents during the past five years.

Accordingly, relevant government officials were directed to make necessary arrangements to identify the lands in the North that could be released without causing a threat to national security and to hand over a report on the matter to the Northern Province Governor by October 1st.

However, the President further noted that military installations were necessary to ensure national security and that the Easter Sunday attacks in April were a clear reminder of the fact.

He explained that authorities should therefore take steps to release the lands that would not threaten national security and to compensate the owners of private lands currently occupied by the military that cannot be released.