Tamil politicians joined locals in Mandaithivu and Pungudutivu yesterday as they halted attempts by Sri Lankan government officials from the survey department to acquire land for the navy.
The protest came after officials from the survey department announced that public owned lands would be acquired in three places under the Velanai Divisional Secretariat - Pungudutivu, Mankupam and Allaipiddy - for the Sri Lankan navy.
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Lawmakers from the Tamil National People’s Front, former Northern Provincial Council member M K Shivajilingam and other politicians were amongst the locals that stopped the Sri Lankan government vehicles from carrying out the survey.
The latest protest comes amidst increased attempts by the Sri Lankan state to expand its reach and occupy even more land across the Tamil homeland in the North-East. Despite more than 12 years since the end of the armed conflict, in which tens of thousands of Tamils were killed, the Sri Lankan military continues to occupy vast swathes of land across the North-East.
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