Tamil residents of Palaly in Jaffna have expressed serious concern over ongoing Sri Lankan military restrictions on worship at the Rajarajeswari Amman Temple, which remains under intense surveillance and operates under limited hours, decades after it was first occupied by the armed forces.
Devotees say that access to the temple, located in an area heavily militarised since the end of the armed conflict, remains precarious and uncertain. Despite the Sri Lankan military recently allowing worship from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. via a designated pathway, the local community has not been granted any official written permission ensuring continued access. Residents fear that the military may once again revoke entry under the pretext of “security concerns,” a justification that has frequently been used to obstruct religious worship in Tamil areas.
The current situation follows a confusing series of reversals. On 27 June, the temple was opened for unrestricted worship for the first time in 35 years. However, just one day later, on 28 June, that permission was abruptly revoked, once again citing “security concerns.” Although limited access was reintroduced last Thursday, the absence of any official documentation has left devotees anxious and uncertain about whether worship can continue uninterrupted.
Preparations are currently underway for the temple’s annual festival. Worshippers have begun cleaning the temple premises and arranging for the observance of rituals. However, community members say that the military-imposed time restrictions are preventing the full religious and cultural expression of the festival, which traditionally includes ceremonies that take place outside of the allowed hours.
The Sri Lankan military has maintained a large presence in Palaly for decades, occupying vast areas of land, including religious and civilian sites, despite repeated calls from Tamil residents and civil society for demilitarisation. The continued control of religious sites by the military has been widely condemned by Tamils, who have highlighted the military's interference in civilian life in the North-East.
Tamils are now urgently calling on the Sri Lankan authorities to remove all time-based restrictions and allow unhindered, permanent access to the temple. They also demand that official written assurances be granted to guarantee uninterrupted worship at the Rajarajeswari Amman Temple.
