Tamils get two roads to access northern land released by one and a half months ago

Sri Lanka’s northern province governor had to intervene to provide road access for over 200-acres of land, returned to Tamils following decades of occupation by the military. The land was released by the president one and a half months ago.

During a visit to Jaffna on 22 March, President Ranil Wickremesinghe released from military occupation a 234.8-acre land owned by the Tamils in Ottagapulam, Thellipalei, in Valikamam-North.

According to regional correspondents, road access to these lands were only provided by Northern Province Governor, P.S.M. Charles, following her request at a meeting with defence authorities on 7 May.

The Governor has managed to get two roads open.

The Northern Provincial Council has announced on 10 May: “The Ponnalei (West) coastal road has been opened near the Palaly (North) School and the airport road has been opened from the Maruthadi junction towards the Palaly-Weerappalai road. In addition, permission has already been granted to access the land near the airport road and the Ottagapulam main road.”

In parallel to the granting of permanent land deeds under the ‘Urumaya’ programme held in Ottagapulam, Jaffna, on 22 March, Tamil people’s land which had been occupied by the Security Forces Headquarters-Jaffna for years was released. It was held under the patronage of the President at the Palaly Air Force Camp.

Official documents pertaining to the release of land were handed over to the president by Jaffna Commander Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe, and the President has handed over them to Jaffna Government Agent Maruthalingam Piradeepan.

Under this programme, a total of 234 acres belonging to five Grama Niladhari divisions in the Valikamam-North Divisional Secretariat area were handed over to the general public. The President’s Media Division had said that the land will be used for agricultural purposes in line with the government’s agricultural modernization programme.

The released 234.8-acre land belongs to the Vasavilan-East (J/244), Vasavilan-West (J/245), Palaly-North (J/254), Palaly-East (J/253), and Palaly-South (J/252) Grama Niladhari divisions.

During a meeting held at the Northern Province Governor’s office on 30 April to discuss resettlement, land owners have informed the Governor that they were allowed to see their land only once during the 40-day period from the land release event until 30 April.

Even though land owners received permission to clear their land on 1 May after the Governor informed the army of these concerns, due to the high-security zone’s fence, land owners had had to travel for around 4.5 kilometres to reach their land.

Regional correspondents said that since the community requested roads to have easy access, the northern province governor was compelled to meet military top brass to obtain the necessary permission.

Accordingly, the Northern Provincial Council announced through its website that the released land can be accessed through Ponnalei-Point Pedro coastal road

However, regional reporters noted that these roads were not open to land owners by 9 May (Thursday).

The website further said that 327 families have registered their land ownership, while 171 families have demarcated their land and have commenced its clearing.

The northern provincial council requests other relevant parties also to commence land demarcation and clearing activities immediately.

However, it is not clear as to who will be bearing the relevant expenses.