Tamils protest efforts to grab 617 acres of land for 'Gotabaya Naval Base'

by Shabeeha
Nov 16, 2022

Tamil land owners protested outside this morning to oppose efforts by the military to acquire 617 acres of land for the Gotabaya naval base in Mullaitivu.

After hearing reports that land surveying was to take place today, several Tamils went to block the process from going ahead. Since 2017, after 617 acres of private land were gazetted for appropriation for the expansion of the 'Vattuvakal Gotabaya Navy base’, there have been multiple efforts to survey the land but these have been unsuccessful due to protests by Tamil landowners.

The locals who own the land have repeatedly called on the Sri Lankan government to release their native land and won’t accept any form of compensation.

Tamil land in the North-East continues to be seized for military purposes, despite over a decade having passed since the end of the armed conflict, with an increase in incidents of Tamils facing intimidation and displacement.

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