Mandaithivu residents prevent attempt to acquire their lands

 

Local residents in Mandaithivu confronted Survey Department officials when they tried to survey their lands on Tuesday. Pix:Northeastern Monitor

Local residents in Mandaithivu, Jaffna prevented an attempt by government authorities to survey their private lands for acquisition for Navy this week. 

Residents in Periyakulam, Mandaithivu refused to allow officials from the Survey Department on Tuesday when they tried to survey the land as a preliminary step to acquire land for the usage of the Navy. 

Political leaders attached to Tamil National Peoples' Front (TNPF) Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, leader of the party and S. Kajendran, General Secretary joined with locals in solidarity opposing the attempt to survey the land. 

Locals told the government officials that it is illegal to survey their land without their consent for government use despite many similar attempts taken in the past. The landowners also requested officials to drop such attempts in future as well. 

Protesting locals also noted that even under the National Peoples' Power government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, attempts to acquire civilian-owned lands are still underway like under previous governments. (Northeastern Monitor/Nov 2/2024)