The lands in the Northern Province which are under the control of security forces will be released to their rightful owners before December 31 and a committee has been appointed to resolve the issues with this regard, says the Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray.

He stated this during the discussion held with the commanding officers of Vavuniya security forces and heads of state institutions at the Vavuniya District Secretariat yesterday (30).

The Governor said that most of the lands in the Northern Province have been released to the original owners by the security forces, however, they have not been accredited to the civilians by the state institutions.

Hence, the lands will be released to the original occupants as per the instructions of the President, after probing the existing issues regarding the reaccreditation of lands, Governor Reginald Cooray stated.

He further said that the release of these lands controlled by the security forces should not be wrongly interpreted as the removal of army camps. However, only the releasable lands will be given back to the civilians, while maintaining the army camps as they are, since priority should be given to national security.

The representatives of the TNA, security forces and state institutions in the north and the residents have not voiced any issue in this regard and the lands that can be released will be handed over to the original owners without delay, he said.

Vavuniya District Secretary I.M. Haniffa, Vanni Security Forces Commander Major General Kumudu Perera, Vanni MP Sivasakthi Ananthan, Vavuniya DIG, officers of Vavuniya security forces and several state officers also have participated in the discussion.