Protestors gathered once again today in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, to demand the removal of an illegal Buddhist vihara and the return of occupied lands to their rightful Tamil owners, as demonstrations around the site continued.
The peaceful protest, which began earlier this morning and is set to continue until 6 PM, coincides with the full moon day, a date that has often seen increased Buddhist religious activity backed by the state.
Among those participating were affected landowners, Tamil politicians, civil society activists, local government representatives and members of the public. Organisers stated that the temple was built without consultation or consent despite court orders and remains a symbol of ongoing militarisation and demographic change in the Tamil homeland.
The site of the vihara, located on privately owned land in Thaiyiddy, has been the subject of repeated controversy and legal challenges. Tamil families displaced by the armed conflict say they were never compensated nor allowed to return, while the construction of the Buddhist site, reportedly with state support, has proceeded regardless.
The protest is part of a broader wave of mobilisation across the North-East, where Tamils have continued to resist state-backed efforts to alter the region’s demographic and cultural identity. Land grabs, the erection of Buddhist symbols and temples, and ongoing Sri Lankan military occupation remain key grievances.
Despite numerous appeals and court cases, state authorities have failed to act on the demands of the local population. Protestors today reiterated their commitment to peaceful resistance until the land is returned and the illegal structure dismantled.
