A high-level review meeting was held at the office of the Deputy Minister of Defence in Colombo to assess progress and address challenges linked to the release of private lands in the Jaffna-Palali area to rightful civilian owners.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd) and attended by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), along with senior defence and administrative officials, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.
Discussions centred on removing operational and administrative barriers, with a particular focus on adjusting the military’s phased withdrawal to accelerate the handover of remaining private lands.
Officials also reviewed the finalization of revised boundary alignments aimed at reducing the impact on civilian properties while ensuring continued protection for vital defence installations.
Both the Deputy Minister and the Defence Secretary reiterated the government’s firm commitment to addressing land-related concerns as a key element of national reconciliation.
They stressed that the land release process must remain transparent, fair, and consistent with national security requirements, the Ministry added.
