The Sri Lankan army has reportedly set up a new camp without any prior in Batticaloa this week, as journalists were barred from entry and from asking questions from security officials.
The camp has been set up inside the Manthivu Bird Sanctuary in the centre of the Batticaloa district. A small islet that covers an area of about 100 acres, Manthivu is also home to a leprosy hospital and several religious sites including a Saivite Murugan Temple and catholic church.
This week however, an army camp also appeared at the site.
As journalists attempted to travel to the area to cover the news, they were denied entry to the site and were instead told that they needed Ministry of Defence clearance.
The move from Sri Lanka’s army is the latest in its rampant militarisation of the Tamil homeland in the North-East. Tens of thousands of Sri Lankan soldiers continue to occupy the region, more than 12 years since the devastating end of the armed conflict in which score of Tamil civilians were killed by government shelling.