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Eelam Tamils returning to their temples within Jaffna's High Security Zone found them desecrated and their lands uninhabitable.
After 34 years, the Sri Lankan Army finally permitted Tamils in the North-East to return to their homes, lands, and temples in the North Nagulewaram Village in Jaffna.
Eelam Tamils returning to their temples within Jaffna's High Security Zone found them desecrated and their lands uninhabitable.
After 34 years, the Sri Lankan Army finally permitted Tamils in the North-East to return to their homes, lands, and temples in the North Nagulewaram Village in Jaffna.
However, the returning Tamils were dismayed to find many of the temple sculptures and structures damaged. For some, this was their first time returning to their original homes for decades.
They offered prayers and conducted religious observances for Pongal amidst significant hardship, as the lands and temples were left in ruins.
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"We want to return to our own homes," the residents said. "We've been living in the homes of relatives, friends, or even renting for the past 34 years." They demanded that the Sri Lankan government take immediate steps to clear their lands and provide unfettered access to their temples and homes.
For some families, this visit marked the first time in almost 30 years that they had seen their homes. Much of the land was seized by the Sri Lankan military following an offensive to capture the Jaffna peninsula in 1995, which triggered an exodus of over half a million people.
Despite the passage of more than 15 years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal and nearly 30 years of occupation in Jaffna, the Sri Lankan military continues to occupy large areas of land across the Tamil North-East. Tens of thousands of troops remain stationed in the region, making it one of the most militarized areas in the world.
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