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Tamils in Kattaidamban, Mannar, gathered in front of the Madhu Divisional Secretariat to protest against the Sri Lankan Forestry Department's takeover of their ancestral lands this week.
Several Tamil families participated in the demonstration, demanding the immediate release of the land, which they claim has been wrongfully seized.
The protest stems from long-standing grievances, as these Tamil families, displaced during the war in 1997, were resettled in 2004 and resumed small-scale farming by 2012.
The protestors argued that the Forestry Department must honour court rulings and return the land to its rightful owners. Holding slogans and chanting outside the Divisional Secretariat, one protestor emphasized, “This is our home, our land, and our livelihood. The Forestry Department must honour the court's verdict and return what is rightfully ours.”
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The villagers called on local officials to expedite the implementation of court rulings and hold the department accountable for delays that have disrupted their livelihoods. The Madhu Divisional Secretary has promised to raise the issue with higher authorities.
Despite the end of the armed conflict 15 years ago, land disputes involving Tamil communities remain unresolved, with state authorities and the military continuing to occupy large areas in the North-East. This situation exacerbates the economic and social challenges faced by Tamil families in these regions.
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