In line with the government’s policy of releasing civilians’ land used by Jaffna Security Forces, the Sri Lanka Army without compromising national security interests released a record 683 acres of land in Jaffna to the original owners.
The Army handed over 683 acres of land in Thelippalai Divisional Secretariat area to 964 legal owners during a ceremony, held on Friday under the auspices of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, District Secretary for Jaffna, Mr Nagalingam Vedanayaham and Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi.
According to the Army, the release of those lands continuing for the last couple of months, following an initiative taken by the Army itself, has however not necessitated either the removal or shifting of any security formation operating in the said portion of the land in Thelippalai, Palaly.
Friday’s release of 683 more acres of the Palaly Army camp area, the biggest chunk of land released to the Jaffna public on a single day, adds a historic chapter to the government’s ongoing projects of reconciliation and ethnic harmony, the Army said.
The event was organized jointly by Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation, Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, District Secretariat for Jaffna and the SFHQ-J as a New Year gift on the eve of the Sinhala & Tamil New Year- 2018.
Commander of the Army formally gave away documents pertaining to the release of lands symbolically to the District Secretary who was present there.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
