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Tamil residents of Keppapulavu presented a petition to Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, demanding the release of lands currently under military occupation.
The petition was handed over during the Prime Minister’s visit to an election campaign rally held by the National People’s Power (NPP) at Puthukkudiyirippu. The Sri Lankan military continues to occupy swathes of land belonging to Tamils in the North-East.
Last month, the residents had already submitted a formal appeal to both the Northern Province Governor and the Mullaitivu District Governor, urging the return of lands in Keppapulavu that were seized by the military. These lands have remained under military control for years since the end of the armed conflict, leaving local residents unable to access or use their ancestral property.
During the NPP event, the people of Keppapulavu seized the opportunity to reiterate their demands directly to the Prime Minister, highlighting the urgent need for their lands to be restored and returned. The community expressed that reclaiming these lands is critical for their livelihoods and long-term security.
Amarasuriya, who attended the rally as a special guest, received the petition but has yet to make a public statement regarding any potential government action.
Last year, a group of residents from Keppapulavu, protested in front of the District Secretariat Office demanding to be included in a government welfare program. The program provides financial assistance to people living in poverty, but the protestors argue that they have been excluded because their lands are still being occupied by the military.
The protestors told the District Secretary at the time Kanageshwaran that they have been unable to cultivate their lands since the military occupation, which has left them in poverty. They asked that the government provide them with financial assistance for them to support their immediate needs.
