Political representatives, university students and civil society organisations have resolved to undertake a joint field visit to border villages in the North-East to directly examine concerns surrounding the controversial Kivul Oya project.
The decision was taken following a discussion titled “Is Kivul Oya a Sign of Impending Danger?” convened under the auspices of the Jaffna Press Club last week
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Among those in attendance were Members of Parliament Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, T. Ravikaran and P. Sathiyalingam; former Member of Parliament Suresh Premachandran; Velan Swamigal; Attorney-at-Law Aingaran Kugathasan; Professor S. Raguram; representatives of university student unions; and residents from border villages in the affected areas.
During the deliberations, participants examined concerns that the Kivul Oya project could result in the appropriation of lands belonging to Tamils. They also discussed potential environmental consequences and the risk of increased human–elephant conflict arising from alterations to land use and irrigation patterns.
Speakers further explored what they described as the underlying objectives of the government in implementing the project, with particular focus on its possible demographic and territorial implications in border regions of Mullaitivu and Vavuniya.
Members of Parliament T. Ravikaran and P. Sathiyalingam underscored the anticipated adverse impacts on Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts, warning that the project could further erode Tamil land rights in areas that have long faced militarisation, state backed schemes and disputes over land ownership.
Concerns over large scale development and irrigation projects in the North-East have intensified in recent years, with Tamil civil society groups warning that such initiatives are often linked to land appropriation and demographic change in historically Tamil areas. The Kivul Oya project has emerged as the latest focal point in these debates.
At the conclusion of the discussion, it was resolved that journalists, political representatives, university students and civil society organisations would collectively conduct a field visit to the border villages to directly assess conditions on the ground and engage with affected residents.
It was also decided that a joint communiqué outlining the matters deliberated would be submitted to progressive organisations across the island, as well as to international bodies and diplomatic missions, in an effort to draw wider attention to the concerns raised.
