The Sri Lankan government says it is currently identifying and releasing private land, currently occupied by the military in High Security Zones, The Hindu reports.
The paper quoted a “top official” from the defence ministry, who said surveyors and other field officials are also involved in the process to ascertain the veracity of claims and identify the owners of the land in question.
The government was not in a position to return all land, the official further said, adding that it decided to provide monetary compensation, based on the market value of the land, or offer alternative land to the legitimate owners.
The official refused to give a definitive figure for the land still occupied by the security forces, but The Hindu said over 5,000 acres are still held.
Earlier this month, Chief Minister of the Northern Province CV Wigneswaran said the military was still holding 64,000 acres in the north alone.
An official from the resettlement ministry said it was not possible to resettle all people in land which was released, due to a lack of “civil amenities”.