The Government has released 672 acres of military-controlled land in the North and East back to its original owners, Deputy Minister of Defence Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Aruna Jayasekara announced in Parliament today (23).

The released lands include 86.24 acres of private property and 586 acres previously used by the military, while 34.58 acres of state land in the Eastern Province have also been returned.

The Deputy Minister stated the decision was made after reviewing information submitted to the National Security Council and the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security.