The Sri Lankan navy has stepped up land grab operations in Mullaitivu, redoubling efforts to seize 617 acres of private land which was gazetted in 2017 for appropriation for the construction of 'Vattuvakal Gotabaya Navy base'.
In 2018, the navy abandoned land surveying attempts in response to successful protests organised by the Tamil landowners. Then Northern Province Council members M. K. Sivajilingam and T. Ravikaran were arrested by Mullaitivu police for their involvement.
A letter dated July 8 was sent to land owners by the Mullaitivu District Surveyor, P. Navajivan stating the land would be surveyed under the Land Acquisition Act by order of the Ministry of Land and Parliamentary Reforms, despite year long protests. Residents were told to visit the Mullivaikkal East Grama Niladhari Division on July 29 with their land titles to identify the boundaries and details of their property for the construction of the navy base.
Tamil land in the North East continues to be seized for military purposes, despite over twelve years having passed since the end of the armed conflict, with an increase in incidents of Tamil residents facing intimidation and displacement.
We need your support
Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.
Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view
We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.
For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.
