<p>Vavuniya residents who have been unable to cultivate their lands due to the obstruction caused by vast Sri Lankan army security bunds put up during the war have been told by local officials that the bunds will not be removed any time soon.</p>
<p>The district’s government agent has said that local authorities need around Rs 15 million to be able to remove the 22km long sand bunds from private cultivation lands, and that the funds are not forthcoming from any source.</p>
<p>The dispute has been ongoing for almost three years. The government agent’s office said the issue was brought to the Sri Lankan ministry of defence’s attention in 2016 but that no action had been taken.</p>
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