Residents of Kinniyadi in the Valaichchenai region staged a protest last week, blocking a vehicle transporting excavated soil in opposition to a contentious land excavation project that locals claim is being carried out under the false pretext of a fish farming initiative.
The protest intensified after Sri Lankan police arrested two individuals, including a local political activist, who had approached Sri Lankan authorities to raise concerns over the excavation. The arrests prompted widespread outrage among villagers, who continued their demonstration in defiance of what they described as police intimidation and suppression.
At the heart of the issue is a private plot of land near the Kinniyadi ice production facility, within the occupying Valaichchenai Police Division. Since 2021, the site has been subject to large-scale excavation work, purportedly for fish farming. However, residents allege that the project has served as a cover for unauthorised commercial soil extraction and sales.
Though earlier youth-led protests prompted a temporary halt, excavation work resumed earlier this month, triggering renewed resistance from villagers and community organisations. The individuals involved in the excavation claim to possess official documentation and have filed complaints with police, leading to the arrests of the two protestors. While both were later released on bail, they now face legal proceedings.
On the morning of the arrests, at approximately 10:00 AM, local residents blocked a vehicle transporting excavated soil. They held placards reading “Don’t destroy our village’s fertile soil,” “Down with the traitors of our land,” and “Severe environmental damage,” as they demanded an immediate halt to the project.
Following the confrontation, a heavy Sri Lankan police presence was deployed in the area. Despite this, protestors continued to gather, demanding the permanent suspension of the excavation and the unconditional release of the detained individuals.
A special meeting was convened at the District Secretariat in the wake of the arrests. Chaired by the District Secretary, it included representatives from the Divisional Secretariat, Land Reclamation Department, District Inland Fisheries Office, and the Central Environmental Authority. Authorities agreed to temporarily suspend the excavation project pending further discussion at the next District Development Committee meeting.
Still, residents remain sceptical and resolute. They have established a temporary shelter at the excavation site and vowed to continue their protest until the project is permanently abandoned.