The Cabinet has approved the proposal by the President and Minister of Defense to release another 1,000 acres of land area in different stages in the Palay area being maintained by the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Air Force as High Security Zones.

This follows a large extent of land from the 11,639 acres which were under the control of the security forces during the war being already released and another 6,152 acres in the Palay area being maintained by the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Air Force as High Security Zones.

As a first step of this measure 220 acres in J 284 Valalai Grama Niladhari Division of the Valikamam East Divisional Secretariat Division is to be released to establish a Pilot Village for resettlement of 1,022 war displaced families. Under this project each family will get 20 perches of land and financial assistance to construct a house. It is also proposed to establish a school, a pre-school, a hospital, religious places of worship, community centres and build other infrastructure activities. The remaining 780 acres of land will also be used in the future to resettle the people displaced by the war.

Meanwhile, it was also decided to release the lands under the control of the Air Force in the Panama area in the Eastern Province to landless people in the area except the 25 acres of land in which buildings are now being constructed. It was further decided to release the buildings presently under the control of the Security Services in the High Security Zone near the President’s House in Colombo and buildings around Temple Trees.