At least 683 acres of civilian land used by Jaffna Security Forces in the past was handed over to its rightful owners this week in keeping up with government's policy of releasing civilian lands without compromising on national security concerns. the Army said. 

The land located in Thelippalei Divisional Secretariat area belong to 964 families who displaced due to war situation over 20 years ago. With the release of those lands, the Internally Displaced People (IDP) families can resettle in their own lands. 

Commander of the Army Mahesh Senanayake who took part in the event as Chief Guest formally handed over documents pertaining to the release of lands symbolically to the Jaffna District Secretary N.Vedanayahan. 

According to the Army, the release of those lands continuing for the last couple of months, following an initiative taken by the Army itself, has however not necessitated either the removal or shifting of any security formation operating in the said portion of the land in Thellippalei, Palaly.

The gesture, organized jointly by Ministry of National Integration and Reconciliation, Ministry of Prison Reforms, Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Hindu Religious Affairs, District Secretariat for Jaffna and the SFHQ-J was attended by a large gathering of people including the beneficiaries