Families from Irainativu have complained that they still lack basic facilities, including clean water and electricity, almost a year since reclaiming their island from Sri Lankan navy occupation.
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.
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.