S. Bavanandarajah, a National People’s Power (NPP) Member of Parliament from Jaffna, has stated that he has formally requested the Sri Lankan military to vacate an army camp located on privately owned land in the Sanganai area and to return the land to its rightful owners.
According to the ruling government MP, the military has responded positively to his request and has assured him that the matter is currently under favourable consideration.
Elaborating on the issue, Bavanandarajah pointed to recent developments in Chulipuram and Pandatharippu, where Sri Lankan military personnel have withdrawn from lands previously under their occupation. He stated that following the withdrawal of troops from land belonging to the Palmyrah and Coconut Resources Development Cooperative Society in Chulipuram, the land has now been formally handed back to the cooperative.
Similarly, he noted that Sri Lankan military personnel who had been stationed on land owned by the Manipay Pradeshiya Sabha in the Pandatharippu area have also withdrawn, with the land subsequently returned to the local authority.
These withdrawals come amid long-standing demands from Tamil representatives and civil society for the demilitarisation of the Tamil homeland and the return of lands seized or occupied by the Sri Lankan armed forces.
Bavanandarajah stated that despite these recent developments, Sri Lankan military personnel continue to be stationed on privately owned lands in the Sanganai East area.
He confirmed that he has formally requested the military to vacate these locations as well and to return the lands to their respective private owners.
According to the MP, the military has assured him that this request is being considered favourably and that steps will be taken in the near future to hand over the lands to their rightful owners.
Large swathes of land across the Tamil homeland, remain under military occupation years after the end of the armed conflict. Tamil landowners, local authorities, and elected representatives have repeatedly raised concerns over continued military presence on civilian and privately owned land, citing livelihood loss, restrictions on movement, and prolonged displacement.
