Three Tamil farmers held in Kurunthurmalai following complaints lodged by Archaeological Dept & Monk

 

Vanni district MP T. Raviharan visited the arrested farmers at Mullaithivu police station today.

Three Tamil farmers from Kurunthurmalai of Thannimurippu village in Mullaithivu were taken into custody yesterday when they were engaged in preparing lands for upcoming cultivation following complaints lodged by the Department of Archaeology and a Buddhist monk.

The Department of Archaeology, along with Galgamuwa Shanthabodhi Thero, lodged a complaint with the police alleging that the Tamil farmers were encroaching on lands belonging to a Buddhist shrine, which comes under the purview of the department. 

Farmers claimed that they were preparing their traditional paddy lands belonging to their families, which had been cultivated by their ancestors for decades in the past. 

The farmers S. Ekamparam, S. Kajaruban, and V. Ilamaran are currently held at Mullaithivu police station. Vanilla district MP T. Raviharan visited the farmers in police custody today (11). 

Police said that farmers were arrested following a complaint lodged to Vavuniya Police HQ by the Department alleging individuals were clearing land belonging to the department. 

MP Raviharan said people from Thannimurippu, AandaalKulam, and AC Farm villages are yet to be resettled in their own villages, and farmers are prevented from accessing their lands as well. 

“However, the Archaeological Department went ahead and demarcated the lands claiming ownership even before residents who were displaced during the wartime period. Local villagers are concerned whether the move is to bring families from South to resettle on lands which were inhabited by Tamils in the past,” (Northeastern Monitor/ May 11/2025)