Out of the thousands of acres of land forcibly retained by the Sri Lankan military in the North-East, 70 acres in Valikamam North and 40 acres in Kilinochchi were ceremoniously released this weekend, even as the state continues to engage in further land grabbing attempts.

At the event held over the weekend, the National Security Advisor who is also the Chief of Staff to President, Sagala Rathnayake, issued the deeds (land titles)of the 70 acres of land in Valikamam North and 40 acres in Kilinochchi. They were released to the relevant Divisional Secretariats. 

The grand ceremony was attended by senior government and military officials, including EPDP paramilitary leader and government ally Douglas Devananda.

Although it has been over 15 years since the massacres at Mullivaikkal, the government of Sri Lanka continues to retain and grab hold of more lands across the Tamil North-East. Last month, officials from the Civil Aviation Authority attempted to survey nearly 500 acres of land presently occupied by the Sri Lankan army under the guise of the development of the Palali Airport in Jaffna.

Residents told the Tamil Guardian that officials from the Survey Department had visited the area around Valikamam North, the same area where land was supposedly released this weekend.

 “The people are very confused, they were asked to give their permission which they refused to do until higher authorities explain the purpose behind these activities,” said one local at the time. “We had to fight hard to even get back the lands we rightfully deserve, our of 6000 acres, we have been given 3000 based on the assurance by President Ranil Wickremasinghe. It is out of this 3000 which has been given to us that they are trying to take nearly 500 acres.”

Despite this supposed release of land, several other land grab attempts have continued across the North-East.