Tamil residents of Nagathalvu village in the Mannar District have complained about Sri Lanka’s continued occupation of a public cemetery in the region and have appealed for at least another site that could be used, as locals are forced to find vacant plots of land to bury their dead. 

The residents lamented the public cemetery used by the village was taken over by Sri Lanka’s Department of Wildlife during the armed conflict. Despite it having ended almost 15 years ago, the cemetery is yet to be vested with the village again.

Last week Tamils in Mannar were forced to perform the last rites and rituals in a vacant plot of land during the pouring rain.

The residents said they were promised that they would be provided with a public cemetery so that they could perform the religious rites however that is yet to materialise.

The public cemetery is separate from the several cemeteries that house the bodies of Tamil cadres who fought for independence that were spread across the North-East. The Sri Lankan state destroyed all the resting places – or Thuyilum Ilam as it is known in Tamil – and built over many of them.

Swathes of land across the North-East continue to be occupied by the Sri Lanka military who have cordoned off private property by setting up military camps. Other land such as children’s playgrounds, recreational areas, and public spaces have also either taken over by the military or government institutions. It is not uncommon to find property belonging to Tamils being used by the military to serve as a golf course or holiday resorts.