Katkolam Army Camp land in North disbanded

Colombo, November 21 (Daily Mirror) - In a move under the Army's restructuring plan, an 8-acre land of the Katkolam Army camp in the north will be returned to civilians, the Army said.

The camp, operated by the 4th Sinha Regiment, is set to be disbanded as part of a broader initiative aimed at returning land occupied by the military to local residents.

The Army is in the process of dismantling the camp’s infrastructure, which is located between Point Pedro and Kodikamam.

Army Spokesman Major General Rasika Kumara said that the decision to remove the camp was made as part of the restructuring efforts.

He said during the security review of the restructuring plan, it has been identified that the camp can be removed.

Meanwhile, the spokesman said that plans are underway to review and return several other lands occupied by the military to the civilian population, although a specific date for the handover has not yet been finalized.

However, the disbandment of the Katkolam camp has not been without controversy. In August of last year, residents of Point Pedro staged a protest against the move, voicing concerns over the potential rise in crime in the area. Protestors, who rallied with placards in front of the Army camp, claimed that the presence of the military had helped reduce crime and played a crucial role in rescuing people during emergencies.

In a similar effort to align with government directives, the Army released 8.6 acres of land in Sittandy, Batticaloa, in 2023, previously used by the 4 Gemunu Watch troops for operational purposes.