Navy attempt to occupy privately-owned northern land pushed back

An attempt by Sri Lanka navy to occupy a plot of land in the northern part of the country has been foiled by the residents and public representatives of the area.

On 29 October, Survey Department officials had arrived in a privately-owned plot of land located near the beach to survey the land in order to expand the Periyakulam Light House Navy Camp in Mandaitivu, Jaffna. However, representatives of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), who arrived at the location with the owner of the land, had thwarted the navy’s attempt, reported local correspondents.

TNPF Leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and TNPF General Secretary Selvarasa Kajendran had arrived at the location to assist the landowner, where Ponnambalam had told the survey officials to stop their continuous, futile attempts.

“In a context where several futile attempts have been made by the Survey Department and the Divisional Secretariat to survey land despite disapproval expressed by the public and landowners, we said that the government should be informed that the best thing that it can do is to stop surveying land.”

Former Member of the Parliament and attorney Ponnambalam had claimed that land surveying carried out against the landowner’s approval, even if it is for a public purpose, is illegal.

“It is illegal to survey land even for common purposes if the landowner does not consent. This could be for a common purpose. But, if landowners and the public are expressing opposition, it cannot be a common purpose.”

North-based reporters further said that unsuccessful attempts to occupy private land owned by Tamil people are continuing as usual under the new Sri Lankan president.