Residents of Iranaitivu who resettled themselves into their homes in a daring protest against military occupation, said that almost one year on the area still lacks basic facilities.
"The government authorities is turning a blind eye on us," residents told the regional human rights commissioner, Mr Kanagaraj, on Thursday.
Residents told him of how they currently have to walk 5km to fetch water.
Kanagaraj is the commissioner for Jaffna and Kilinochchi districts.
April 2018 - Iranaitivu residents sail back in daring protest
In April 2018 Iranaitivu residents sailed to the island in around 200 boats to peacefully reclaim the island from the navy, after years of failed campaigns for the island’s release.
While the residents were allowed to stay after some initial resistance, no steps have been taken by the government or local authorities to support their resettlement.
With their traditional freshwater storage systems destroyed by occupation, Iranaitivu residents have to rely on limited handouts from the navy who still hold control over the remaining fresh water sources on the island.
Iranaitivu resident holds placard. April 2018
The residents are also living entirely without electricity as well as having no access to emergency medical services.
“We are happy to finally be back in our own land, but the conditions here have set us back decades,” one resident said.
“We were perfectly capable of living and fishing and eating here before we were displaced. Now everything is destroyed, the infrastructure is gone.”
“The government is boasting about releasing land but what about helping us rebuild everything they destroyed?” the resident said.
