July 16, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government is to gradually resettle people who have been displaced due to the establishment of High Security Zones (HSZs) in the North.

Deputy Resettlement Minister Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan told ColomboPage that 62,000 persons have been displaced due to the HSZs in the North.

He said the Defence Secretary had promised to him that the HSZs in the North would be gradually removed to enable the resettlement programme.

Muralitharan's comment came after a statement made by Government Spokesperson Minister Keheliya Rambukwella that the government would not dismantle the HSZs in the North.

"However, people have now been given permission to visit places of worship located within HSZs," Minister Muralitharan said.

According to the deputy Minister, resettlement of displaced civilians has already taken place in some HSZ areas like Vadamarachchi East.

"There are still large extents of land in the North that are covered by HSZs," he said.