Secretary Defence visits North, holds discussions on release of lands

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence B.M.U.D Basnayake who assumed duties President Maithripala Sirisena was voted to power, undertook his first formal visit to the North, together with tri-service commanders, the Defence Ministry said.

“Major General Nandana Udawatte presented a briefing on the current situation in regard to release of lands in the High Security Zones to the rightful owners of the general public. In addition, Navy and Air Force Commanders in the Jaffna area gave separate briefings on their roles and tasks to the Secretary at the same occasion.

Basnayake afterwards joined an all rank tea table where hundreds of service personnel were present to greet the visiting Secretary. 

Later in the evening, the Defence Secretary sat down with a delegation from the Ministry of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Affairs for a review on recent resettlement programmes of displaced persons in the North,” the Ministry said in a statement.