Sri Lanka fixes dates for elections in war-torn east

COLOMBO Jan 25 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has fixed dates to hold local elections in the recently recaptured east for the first time in 14 years, a day after the government unveiled a home grown peace plan aimed at giving more autonomy to war-torn areas.

"The elections will be held on 10th of March," said an official at the Department of the Elections Commissioner, asking not to be named in line with policy.

Local authority elections are held every four years, but elections in the north and east have been repeatedly postponed because of continued fighting between Tamil Tiger rebels and government troops.

Government troops drove Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE) rebels from their bastions in the east of the island around six months ago. (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal; editing by David Fox)

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