Government Accelerates Review of Land Release Process in Jaffna and Palaly
A progress review meeting on ongoing initiatives concerning state-owned and privately owned lands currently used by the security forces in the Jaffna and Palaly areas was held on June 24 at the Parliament Complex.
The meeting, which served as a follow-up discussion to previous deliberations on land-related matters, was jointly chaired by Deputy Minister of Defence Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Ramalingam Chandrasekar, and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku.
The meeting reviewed ongoing progress and discussed ways to accelerate government efforts to resolve land ownership grievances, support socio-economic growth, and streamline infrastructure development in coordination with regional administrative mechanisms. These initiatives are considered key to the national reconciliation process and community resettlement in the region.
Special attention was given to several key matters, including the finalization of boundary realignments, expediting compensation procedures, and prioritizing identified land plots for future return to their rightful owners.
Addressing the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Defence highlighted observations from his recent field visit to several key locations across the Jaffna Peninsula last month, focusing primarily on land currently used by the security forces.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for relevant state stakeholders to discuss prevailing challenges and identify practical measures to further expedite the process while ensuring effective coordination among all concerned institutions. It was additionally agreed that the release of relevant lands to rightful owners would be finalized by the National Security Council (NSC).
The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Commanders of the Army and Air Force, Jaffna District Secretary, senior officials of the Ministry of Defence, senior Army and Air Force officers, and officials representing relevant state institutions were also present.
