Tamil MP demands immediate release of private and church lands in Mannar

Senior Tamil lawmaker from Vanni District and Mannar native, Selvam Adaikalanathan has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urging him to release the lands still under the Navy occupation in Mannar and adjoining areas.

In his letter to the President, Adaikalanathan detailed the lands continue to be occupied by the Navy depriving the Tamils of their daily livelihood.

President Dissanayake recently took steps to release 3 acres of land in Jaffna occupied by the military for decades.
The lands occupied by the Navy in the villages of Mullikulam, Thalaimannar Pier, Pallimunai, and Vanakalai in Mannar district belong to the people and the rightful owners of the land are unable to carry on their daily life and are trapped, he wrote in his letter.

“They are people’s farmlands and the residential lands at Mullikulam, lands belonging to the Catholic Church of our Lady of Perpetual Health at Talaimannar Pier, lands belonging to individuals by the side of Vankalai-Nanattam road and residential lands at Pallimunai”.

Tamils in the Mullikulam area were evicted on September 7, 2007, by the Sri Lankan security forces. Over 1000 acres of land were seized by the security forces, particularly the Navy at that time.

However, after 7 years of the war coming to an end just a tenth of the occupied area, 100 acres were released.
“Another 900 acres-including agricultural lands with 4 ponds and residential areas- remain unreleased.”

The Navy continues with the occupation following the establishment of their North Western Naval Headquarters within this area.

Vast areas of land belonging to the centuries old ‘Madu Matha’ church In Thalaimannar Pier are still under the occupation of the Navy, the parliamentarian also pointed out in his letter dated 25th November’24 to the President.

“The Church (Our Lady of Perpetual Health) and the land surrounding the church. This land and church belong to the Diocese of Mannar, the diocesan bishop, and the people. Approximately 10 acres of land. The North Central Naval Command Headquarters has been established within this”.

Although the land belonging to the church has not yet been released, the Catholics of this village have been allowed to hold Sunday services.

The lawmaker and the public point out, that nowhere in Sri Lanka two Naval command headquarters are situated nearby that too within the same district.

Selvam Adaikalanathan in his letter points out that the Navy camp in Pallimunai has been set up in the land belonging to the residential areas of the public and the Navy personnel have been living in this area for close to a quarter of a century by setting up a camp there.

Also, a camp called ‘Pussadeva Navy Camp’ by the Navy Personnel is located on the Vankalai-Nanattan road.
“This land belongs to an individual owner”.

In his letter, he called upon the President to release the lands and pave the way for the people to live freely in their own lands.