Jaffna military presence reduced by 60 percent

Ridma Dissanayake

The strength of the military presence in the Jaffna district has been reduced by 60 percent, while the High Security Zones (HSZ) has also been reduced by 40 percent during the past three years, Sri Lanka Army Media Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said.

Brigadier Wanigasooriya was addressing a press briefing held at the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), yesterday.

"The military is gradually reducing its presence in Jaffna as the situation there is peaceful. The military has been re- deployed to other places in the country, according to the requirements," he said.

"At present, only 15,000 armed personnel are deployed in the Jaffna Peninsula to maintain law and order.

"During the war period, the Army had deployed around 50,000 armed personnel in the Jaffna Peninsula," the Brigadier added.

"This military presence is only for maintaining law and strengthening peace in the area. It will never cause a hindrance to civilian life in the Jaffna Peninsula." he said