A group of Tamil residents successfully blocked government officials from surveying land for a Sri Lankan navy camp in Mandaitivu.
On October 29, government officials were forced to turn back after a group of Tamil residents and politicians pushed back their attempt to acquire lands for a navy camp.
The navy has been occupying the Mandaitivu since 1990 with its camp based on over 18 acres of land belonging to 11 Tamil owners.
Various Sri Lankan government departments, such as the archeology department, have tried to acquire lands owned by Tamil people. Meanwhile, vast swathes of land remain occupied by the Sri Lankan military who continue to be stationed across the North-East despite the armed conflict ending 15 years ago.
There have also been increasing tensions over recent years as Tamil religious sites are being claimed by Sinhala Buddhist monks with the assistance of the Sri Lankan military and government departments.
