Rambukwella says many people have already left Sampur and Muttur

Defence Affairs spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, however admitted that new "development plans" are under consideration for Muttur and Sampur.

He also admitted that Sampur and Muttur residents will lose their properties and ancestral lands as a result of the government plans.

Asked whether establishing HSZ is a part of a plan to develop a Coal Power Plant, Minister Rambukwella said it is essential that security is established for the development in the areas.

Coal Power Plant

"Thousands were resettled in other places during the Mahaveli development. Many villages completely dissapeared but nobody argued against Mahaveli development," Keheliya Rambukwella told BBC Sandeshaya.

Sacrifices will have to be made if there is a development, anywhere in the world Minister Rambukwella

"Sacrifices will have to be made if there is a development, anywhere in the world," he said.

"Establishing security is important as attacks to places of national interest were earlier launched from these areas," Rambukwella told bbcsinhala.com.

Muttur and Sampur, areas controlled by Tamil Tigers, were captured by Sri Lanka security forces last year.

The government is taking steps to resettle refugees in many villages in the east.

In Sampur and Muttur, however, authorities say security authorities are yet to give the approval for resttlement.