Over 100,000 Tamil refugees from the North-East of Sir Lanka remain in Tamil Nadu 6 and a half years after the armed conflict between the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Sri Lankan government reports the Hindu.

The Treasurer of the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation (OfERR) in Tamil Nadu, speaking to the Hindu, said,

“The government of India should come with a generous package to supplement the efforts of Sri Lankan government in facilitating the return of the refugees.”

Sri Lanka’s Navy pledged to ‘preserve’ the ‘hard-won peace’ on the island, reports Colombo Page.

In a New Year address to Navy personnel, the Commander of the Navy Ravindra Wijegunaratne, called on all Navy personnel to perform their duties and extend their assistance to the development of the country.

Former Sri Lanka Navy commander admits having knowledge of underground torture cells  (22 Nov 2015)

The commander of Sri Lanka’s Army Lieutenant General Crishante De Silva said the army’s primary commitment was to ensure national security in a New Years Message.

Speaking to the army on New Year’s day Mr De Silva said,

Some 700 acres of land in Valikamam North, which has been under army occupation for over 25 years, was released to owners on Tuesday.

Lands from the High Security Zone were released to owners, including the remainder of army-held land in Valalai, completely freeing the village of army occupation.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called on the Sri Lankan government to release remaining lands held in the New Year.

Welcoming the release of 701 acres of land occupied by the military in Valikamam North and East earlier this week, the TNA recalled a promise made by the president during a visit to Jaffna two months ago to release lands that could be immediately released by the end of 2015.