Jaffna Security Forces Commander Mahinda Hathurusinghe said the deeds of lands once occupied by the Army would be handed over to the owners by the Land Ministry beginning from next month.

He said the first phase would begin next month with the Land Ministry identifying the respective owners.
“We have vacated all the lands and houses we were once occupying and we have moved into the Palaly Cantonment,” Major General Hathurusinghe said.

The Military has relocated from 13 camps out of 16 camps it had set up in the Jaffna peninsula to the Palaly Cantonment. The Military had requested the Land Ministry to provide them with the necessary land in the Palaly and Kankasanthurai (KKS) to expand the Palaly Airport and the KKS Harbor.

The government is in the process of acquiring an additional 6,000 acres of land for the purpose and steps have also being taken to pay compensation to the owners.  

“In the North we have three main divisions – 51, 52 and 55. They are situated in Kopai, Varani and Vetthilairkerni,” the Maj. Gen said.

Currently the military presence in the Jaffna peninsula is concentrated in three areas -- Weligamam, Thenmarachchi and Vadamarachchi.

Recently outgoing Army Commander General Jagath Jayasuirya told Daily Mirror that all troops would remain within the Palaly Cantonment excluding the three outposts in the Jaffna city. (Supun Dias)