Sri Lanka Army, in keeping with the new government’s policy to release more security forces-held lands to the civilians, has released another 133 acres in Mullaitivu district used by armed forces for security requirements.
The Army at a ceremony held today released a land area of 133.34 acres in Keppapilavu in the Mullaitivu Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat, together with 28 newly-built or completely renovated houses and all buildings.
Commander, Security Forces – Mullaitivu (SF-MLT) Major General Dushyantha Rajaguru symbolically handed over the relevant certificates of land clearance to Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Prison Reforms, Resettlement, Rehabilitation and Hindu Affairs B. Senthilnandan, and District Secretary for Mullaitivu Ms R. Kethishwaran.
At the time the Army acquired the land in Keppapilavu, there were only 8 buildings and one foundation in the location which had remained unattended for years. However, the Army after renovating those buildings and constructing 20 more new permanent houses for those land-owners with their consent, released those 133.34 acres.
Out of the total of 133.34 acres released today, 111.05 acres in Keppapilavu were released to 68 land owners and the remaining 21.84 acres were given to 17 land owners in Seeniyamottai village to whom the land was belonging.
Sri Lanka Army commenced the gradual release of private property used by the Armed Forces after the conclusion of humanitarian operations in 2009.
As of 1 December 2017, the army has released a total of 55,510.58 acres of private and state land in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya in the northern province, in addition to the 133.34 acres released today (28) in Keppapilavu.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
