Approximately 1,200 people who accused the Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka would be released, with the end of emergency laws enacted 28 years ago, associated with separatist movements, state media reported,

The Daily News quoted Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem who said the expiration of the emergency legislation announced by President Mahinda Rajapakse last week it will lead to the immediate release of the suspects in custody pursuant to the rule.

"About 1,200 former members of the LTTE will be released soon," said Hakeem told the newspaper without giving any further explanation.

When the rebels were defeated in 2009, the Government of Sri Lanka states hold about 12,000 members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Some of them were released within the last two years and an unknown number of people who are still detained.

The government announced the repeal of emergency laws on Wednesday last week, but the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which allows security forces to detain suspects for long periods of time, will remain in place.

With the announcement that Rajapakse, emergency laws are meant to end in August. Emergency legislation, which gives security forces wide powers to arrest and detention, updated every month with only a short time-lag the first time since its entry into force 28 years ago.

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe welcomed the decision, but stated that the government should have put an end to emergency rule was faster after the final military victory over Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009.