The Sri Lankan government pledged this week to build 4750 houses within six months in the North-East. 

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the secretary of the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development, Vocational Training, Skills Development and Youth Affairs, V Sivagnanasothy, said "work was well under progress and that the houses would be out of bricks and mortar/cement sand block, traditional type houses in the conflict affected areas of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, under an owner-driven modality."

"Priority would be given internally displaced persons (IDPs), families in welfare camps and refugee returnees," he added. 

The promise comes as hundreds of displaced families across the North-East continue protests demanding the government release their original lands, which remain under military or state occupation despite the passing of ten years since the end of the armed conflict. 

Displaced families have repeatedly requested to be allowed to return to their original homes, instead of being resettled else where. 

"Under the first phase 1,500 houses will be for Jaffna, 670 houses for Kilinochchi, 630 houses for Mullaitivu, 450 houses for Vavuniya, 350 houses for Mannar, 625 houses for Batticaloa, 400 houses Trincomalee and 125 houses for Amparai,” Sivagnanasothy added.