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A Sri Lankan oversight committee on ‘national security’ has issued a directive to seize land for a Buddhist shrine in Jaffna, which local Tamil residents have opposed.The directive, addressed to the Valikamam North Divisional Secretary, mandates the transfer of private land on which the Tissa Rajamaha Vihara is situated to the shrine, while also suggesting alternative land allocation for Tamil residents whose properties are affected.
The letter, dispatched by Chula Herath, secretary of the oversight committee headed by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna's Colombo District Member of Parliament, Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekara, underscores the decision taken on March 5th, 2024.
According to the directive, all land registrations in the area, including those of the Tissa Rajamaha Vihara, were conducted in 2017. The land in question, encompassing 8.98 acres and demarcated into five parcels, has been verified by Chartered Surveyors. However, concerns linger regarding the accuracy of historical maps dating back to 1956 and 1971, prompting plans to reassess land boundaries surrounding the shrine.
The directive's call for expedited land transfer to the vihara and provision of alternative lands within a month is likely to draw further protest, particularly against the backdrop of ongoing military occupation in Valikamam North, designated as 'high security zones'. For over three decades, Tamil residents have been barred from accessing their lands, resulting in grievances and displacement. Although partial releases of these zones have occurred in recent years, returning residents often find their homes and community infrastructure ravaged.
Tamils have voiced consistent opposition to the Tissa Rajamaha Vihara since its construction began in 2023, demanding the temple's removal and the restoration of surrounding land to the affected fourteen families. Accusations of illegal construction and encroachment on local lands fueled tensions, particularly with the ramping up of police and military protection for the construction, prompting a meeting chaired by MP Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Governor Jeevan Thiagaraja. However, Tamil MPs M.A. Sumanthiran, S. Sritharan, T. Siddharthan, and Angajan Ramanathan, withdrew from discussions and joined the protests.
