Tamils in Jaffna demand access to 'released' land

by Rukshana
May 8, 2024

Tamils in Jaffna have demanded the Northern Provincial Governor provide them unfettered road access to lands that were allegedly “released” by the Sri Lankan government but remain restricted by military checkpoints. 

Residents met Governor P.S.M Charles this week where they requested that she speak with the security forces and provide them access through the main road networks. The residents lamented that they had to circumvent several roads to reach their lands or rely on dilapidated roads, which undermined their efforts to clear and reside in those lands again. 

Several military checkpoints also remain in place, hampering access to their land.

Despite it being 15 years since the end of the armed conflict, Jaffna continues to be a garrison for Sri Lanka’s security forces who maintain a strict surveillance over the day-to-day life of Tamils.

Though the government claims to be releasing land controlled by the military, vast swathes remain under occupation. Even on land that has been released, such as in Tellippalai residents say occupation by the security forces has made their homes unhabitable and in ruins. 

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