COLOMBO, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 108 acres of land under security forces in northern Sri Lanka will be released and distributed among 197 families on Friday, the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Thursday.
The PMD said the step was taken on the directive of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The PMD said the president made a pledge in January to release the land prior to the 75th Independence anniversary which falls on Feb. 4.
The president said last week that there are about 3,000 acres of land that previously belonged to private owners under the control of security forces.
He said that most of the land taken over by the security forces during Sri Lanka's civil conflict had already been released.
The president said he will release more land after consulting with defense authorities. ■