Speaking to Sri Lanka Mirror, he said the land, both state and private, have been given back within a period of one-and-a-half years.

They include the Nadeswar School at Telippalai, said the Army chief.

The military still retains certain land owing to security reasons, but the civilians will be assisted to uplift their lives, he said.

War-displaced in camps

He went onto say that nearly 920 war-displaced families still lived in 31 camps, and that 490 of them never owned land.

Housing projects are underway for the returnees, including a 100-unit scheme at Keeramalai on a 47-acre area.

Both members of the military and rehabilitated LTTE members are engaged in building these houses. Lt. Gen. de Silva added.