Sri Lanka’s defence secretary said that land releases in the North-East are not taking place due to pressure from the international community, but that the decision was being made by the military.
Addressing a ceremony in Galle, Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that there were “false allegations… that security in North and East are in danger”. “Anyone can visit these areas and clarify on the matter,” he continued, according to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence.
According to the Ministry of Defence, Mr Hettiarachchi “also pointed out that, lands that were acquired by the government forces during the war period is presently handing back to their legitimate owners not because of international requirement but only in fulfilling needs of our brothers and sisters”.
The military continues to occupy large swathes of land across the North-East, leaving tens of thousands of Tamils displaced and languishing in resettlement camps.