The chief minister of the Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran said confusion remained about whether the land belonging to Tamils in the North would be returned to its rightful owners, despite an announcement on Thursday by Sri Lanka's new government that it would give back the lands.

Mr Wigneswaran who met with the UK minister for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire today in Jaffna, said that the visiting UK delegation had asked about the government's announcement.

"I replied, it has been announced, however, the prime minister has already said that they will not reduce the number of military camps. Therefore this creates some confusion," Mr Wigneswaran told reporters after the meeting with Mr Swire.

The Sri Lankan military's High Security Zone in Valikaamam North is built over an area of private land belonging to Tamils, who now live as long term IDPs at the Sabapathipillai Welfare Centre.

On Thursday the new government's spokesperson, Rajitha Senaratne, said they would have a new approach to the North and pledged to return lands belonging to the Tamil people currently under military control.

"We don't think we need all that security. Our entire concept will be different," Mr Senaratne told journalists in Colombo. "About the lands in the north... we have already decided whatever acquired for business purposes, other than the security purposes, to give back to the owners."