The Sri Lankan army’s 62 Division celebrated its 8 year anniversary by building a holiday bungalow for soldiers at its Vanni headquarters, consolidating its presence in the region, despite calls for demilitarisation.
A Buddhist ceremony was held at the headquarters, which feature a chanting ceremony and Kandyan dancers. The military also announced that it had opened a newly-constructed dining hall at the army base.
The move from the army comes despite massive backlash from local Tamils against the continued military presence in the region. Though the Sri Lankan government pledged to demilitarise the North-East, the military has been consolidating its presence there, frequently opening new buildings at different military complexes across the region.