The Point Pedro Urban Council has resolved to organise a large-scale public demonstration demanding the removal of Sri Lankan military camps within the council's administrative limits, accusing the authorities of failing to act despite similar demands raised a year ago.
The proposal was tabled by Point Pedro Mayor Douglas Paul during the council's monthly sitting on Monday, chaired by the mayor and attended by Council Secretary Chandrasekaram Prasad and the council's 15 elected members.
The mayor recalled that the council had organised a major protest last year calling for the town's military camps to be relocated to more appropriate sites, arguing that their continued presence was an obstacle to Point Pedro's development.
At the time, he said, the authorities had indicated the matter would be considered favourably, and members of parliament from the governing National People's Power had stated that the camps would be released in the near future. A year on, no action has been taken.
In light of the continued inaction, the mayor proposed that the council once again organise a large-scale protest, bringing together public organisations to renew the demand for the camps to be removed and relocated. The proposal was backed by a majority of councillors, and the mayor confirmed the demonstration is expected to be held in August.
At the start of the meeting, members observed a tribute to the Tamil political prisoners and civilians killed during the 1983 Black July pogrom.
Last year's demonstration, also organised by the Urban Council, drew attention to the continued military occupation of land within the town's limits, with participants arguing that the camps had become a major obstacle to development.
The council's demands centre on two longstanding military installations. One is an army camp at the Point Pedro Jetty, just metres from the town centre and adjacent to the town's two prominent schools, on land that was once the town centre itself, before commercial activity shifted elsewhere following the military's arrival. Local representatives have raised concerns that the camp operates a commercial outlet, saying it undermines local businesses.
The second is a naval camp at Munai, on the northern tip of Point Pedro, encompassing the historic Point Pedro Lighthouse and the adjoining Munai Beach, a popular destination for local and foreign visitors.
Local representatives argue that the continued occupation disrupts residents and visitors and deprives the town of strategically valuable land that could support its economic growth.