Ambiguity remains on the release of lands in north under AKD government

The new defence secretary of Sri Lanka says the release of thousands of acres of land seized by the military in the Jaffna peninsula is subject to what he calls evaluation of needs.

Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha was in Jaffna to discuss the situation in Jaffna after the heavy rains and severe floods over the past few days. He was participating in a meeting at the Jaffna District Secretariat and a media briefing later.

A local journalist sought an answer from the Defence secretary about the release of lands in the Jaffna area belonging to war displaced Tamils.

“Sir, In Jaffna area 2700 acres of barren land to be released. So many people they are in the rental houses and rental lands, so if any chances to release that lands?”

The reply appeared to be pretty evasive.

“Yeah, we are thinking on that and in future, we will know, do the proper evaluation and we will decide on that. We have understood the requirement of releasing lands and you know in future also we will evaluate properly the requirement and take some decisions”.

Not satisfied with the answer of the defence secretary, the journalist continued seeking a definite answer.

“In this government, this government has only five years or six years. In this five years or six years that there is a chance to release the lands, that’s the question”.

Replying to the journalist the Defence secretary though not confirming the release of the barren lands to the landless Tamils, who are struggling with their dwelling and livelihood, he reiterated that all depends on further evaluation.

“We have to evaluate again about security concerns and other concerns and we will take certain decisions on that in near future. Definitely, we are going to do certain things positively, and as we have already done the opening of the roads we are always thinking about the people of this country and we are taking decisions accordingly”.

Even after 15 years of the brutal civil war came to a bloody end, thousands of Tamils are yet to get back their traditional livelihood including the non-return of their private lands as well as allowing the use of barren lands, apart from what they call ‘living under a heavily militarized province’.

The new NPP government headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his election manifesto has promised “Social Solidarity and Social empowerment”.

“The NPP views social protection and welfare as a core responsibility of the state”.

Tamil lawmakers say thousands of private and government lands are still under military occupation in the ‘Tamil homeland’ comprising 8 districts in the North and East of the country.