The Myiliddy Resettlement Development Committee has submitted a memorandum to the Jaffna District Secretary urging the expedited release of privately owned lands that remain under the control of the Sri Lankan security forces.
The delegation met the District Secretary on Monday at the Jaffna District Secretariat and formally handed over the memorandum, calling for urgent action to release lands in Valikamam North that continue to be held within the High Security Zone.
Large swathes of land in Valikamam North have remained under military occupation for decades, preventing displaced families from returning to their homes and resuming their livelihoods. Tamil residents and civil society groups have for years called for the full release of these lands, arguing that continued military control constitutes an ongoing violation of the rights of the people of the Tamil homeland.
The memorandum comes amid renewed government statements on land releases. Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar has told the media that the Sri Lankan government continues to adhere to the principle that “the people’s lands belong to the people,” and that steps will be taken to release a portion of lands in Valikamam North prior to the forthcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year in April.
At the same time, Minister Bimal Rathnayake, during a visit to Jaffna last Friday, stated at a public event that certain administrative inefficiencies among state officials have contributed to delays in the process of land release.
Tamil residents, however, have repeatedly expressed frustration at long-standing delays and partial releases that leave many families still unable to return to their homes. Civil society organisations in the North have warned that without a clear and comprehensive plan to dismantle the High Security Zones and return all privately owned lands, communities will continue to face displacement and economic hardship.
The Myiliddy Resettlement Development Committee has called on authorities to act without further delay and ensure the full restoration of land to its rightful owners, emphasising that the return of land is essential for the dignity, security and future of the people of the Tamil homeland.
