Government begins removal of High Security Zones in Jaffna

The Government has started to gradually remove the High Security Zones (HSZ) established in Jaffna during the decades-long ethnic conflict.

The Government has launched this programme on an intuitive decision of the President and with the guidance of Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return the houses and land occupied by the High Security Zones within the Palaly area in Jaffna to their rightful owners.  Jaffna Commanding Officer Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe told the state-run TV that the military has taken action to return 256 houses in the area to the civilians.  According to Major General Hathurusinghe 2,392 houses have been identified for civilian occupation in more than 2,500 hectares of land that were set aside for HSZs. The Army demining team jointly with the non-governmental organisation Halo Trust has accelerated the demining process in the area.

The Jaffna Commanding Officer says that the removal of HSZs has no impact on security in Jaffna as the government’s decision to return the HSZs has gained the trust of the people in the peninsula. (ColomboPage)