Sri Lanka to reduce troops in northern war zone ahead of polls

Colombo: Sri Lanka's military says it has decided to remove a dozen army camps in the former northern war zone where key elections are scheduled in less than two months.

Military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said troops will be moved from 13 camps in the Jaffna peninsula and added that the locations, "for which army paid the rent, will be handed over to the original owners."

He says the move is part of process of relocating the military in the Jaffna peninsula and reducing the presence of troops.

Sri Lanka has faced rising international criticism for failing to demilitarise the former war zone since the end of the civil war in 2009.

Elections for key councils are to be held in September.