Residents of Oddusuddan, Mullaitivu have requested the release of land that is currently occupied by Sri Lanka's 64th Regiment during a development meeting last week.
The 64th Regiment army base currently occupies 25 acres of land belonging to the Irrigation Department, two individuals and a Hindu cemetery.
All those present at the meeting were asked to produce the title deeds of the lands. An army official told those at the meeting that the land belonging to the two individuals and the cemetery would be released but a decision relating to the Irrigation Department's land would be made at a later date following discussions with the department.
Locals that attended this meeting remain skeptical as the 64th Regiment have made previous promises to release the land belonging to the cemetery but the land remains occupied. The occupation has made it difficult for the locals who now have to travel further afield to access the next closest cemetery.
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