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Sri Lanka's main Islamic party calls for removal of excess military camps

Xinhua, June 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Sri Lanka's main Islamic political party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), called for the removal of excess military camps in the former war zones in the north of the country on Monday.

SLMC leader and minister in the government, Rauff Hakeem said that his party does not agree with the proposal that the army should be fully withdrawn from the north.

He said there is a concern by the public in the north that the army is still occupying property it does not require.

Hakeem said the army continues to operate a hotel and conducts other businesses in the north.

He said the army must release property which needs to be given back to the people and have camps in the north which are only required for national security.

The Sri Lankan army had said earlier that it will not withdraw from the north despite the end of a 30 years civil war in 2009.

Sri Lanka government battled Tamil Tiger rebels in a brutal war which saw thousands killed on both sides.

However following the end of the war Tamil political parties have been calling for the withdrawal of the army from the north. Endit