Military camps will not be removed from the Northern Province, new Defence Secretary Retired Major General Kamal Gunaratne said yesterday (30).
Speaking to the media after his inaugural visit to Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy, Gunaratne explained that the camps will remain in places where there is a need for military presence.
“No one will be harmed just because there are army camps,” Gunaratne said.
During his meeting with the Chief Prelate of the Asgiriya Chapter Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, the Defence Secretary said people are now hoping to live without fear and that the responsibility of ensuring national security was entrusted to him by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“I will also have to restore what has been destroyed,” Gunaratne said adding that this was especially the case of intelligence that is affected by the lack of mutual support and trust.
A project is underway where the government released military-held private land to their rightful owners.
During his meeting with Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera the Defence Secretary explained that the police and Special Task Force (STF) will be deployed to resolve an issue. Army personnel will be deployed if the situation could not be tackled by both the police and the STF.