Mr. Aaru Thirumurugan, Vice President of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress, has called for the immediate release of several ancient Hindu worship sites such as Keerimalai Sadaiyamma Madam, land belonging to the Adishivan Temple, and the land of the Sukravara Chathiram Madam currently used by Thalseva Hotel in Kankesanthurai, under Sri Lankan military control.
He stated that “Ancient sites that Hindu devotees have worshipped at for generations continue to remain under heavy military control, labeled as High-Security Zones. We earnestly appeal to the Sri Lankan President to take immediate action to release these sacred places”
Highlighting continued militarization, a children’s park was opened at the Thalseva resort in Palaly in 2019 and the opening was led by former Jaffna’s military commander, Dharshana Hettiarrachchi.
Notably, Keerimalai was occupied by the Sri Lankan military and the entry for Tamils to commemorate the Mullivaikkal remembrance day was prohibited in the year 2014.
Thirumurugan noted that military occupation persists on lands belonging to Tamils in the Northern and Eastern provinces, and urged the authorities to address this issue and return the lands to their rightful civilian owners.
Additionally, near the revered Thirukoneswarar Temple — a site of significant spiritual importance — petty shops have been established along the path leading to the temple, disrupting its sanctity and spiritual atmosphere. This issue had previously been raised during the Sri Lankan President’s visit to the Nallai Aadheenam the previous year.
On behalf of the Hindu community, Mr. Thirumurugan called for urgent measures to preserve the historical and spiritual environment surrounding the sacred Thirukoneswarar site.
He reminded that the Sri Lankan President had pledged to resolve the long-standing issues of the Tamil people and urged him to honor that commitment by ensuring a permanent solution that upholds their rights and dignity.
The Thalseva Hotel, which now operates on the land of the historic Sukravara Chathiram Madam in Kankesanthurai, is run by the Sri Lankan military. The site, previously used for religious and communal purposes by local Tamil communities, was seized during the armed conflict and remains under Sri Lankan military control. Its current use as a commercial establishment by the armed forces has raised concerns among local residents and civil society groups, who have highlighted the broader issue of military involvement in civilian and economic activities in the Northern Province.
