GOVT. ACQUIRES HSZ LANDS IN PALALY

The military yesterday said the government was in the process of acquiring the remaining land within the High Security Zone (HSZ) in Palaly, Jaffna for developmental purposes.

Jaffna Commander Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe stated that some 6,800 acres of land out of the 11,000 acres within the Palaly HSZ had already been released to the owners. “We will be acquiring the remaining, some 4,200 acres of land in the High Security Zone, the majority of which belongs to the government,” he said.

“Most of the land to be acquired already be- longs to the government and the Government Agent is already taking stock of the private land in Kopay and Thellipalai as we will be providing the owners with compensation at the current market rate,” Major General Hathurusinghe said.

Most of the acquired land is to be used for the development projects such as the expansion of the Palaly airport, he said. The process for acquiring land had already begun with the Ministry of Land and Land Development setting up an office in the area and the former Provincial Chief Secretary being given the responsibility of the administrative process.

“We have already cleared most of the High Security Zones in the peninsula and most have been released to the people. There are a few hundred acres of land in Muhamalai that we are clearing now and will hand over that in due course as well,” the Major General said.

We have already cleared most of the High Security Zones in the peninsula and most have been released to the people

Meanwhile, Minister of Land and Land Reforms, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon speaking to the Daily Mirror denied any knowledge of the process