Road to Hindu shrine in Palaly released after decades

 

Palaly Rajarajeswari temple is to mark the annual festival on July 20. Pix: Nirujan Selvanayaham

The main access road to Hindu shrine that was released from decades long military custody in Palay, Jaffna was opened for public use today (July 16). Palaly Rajarajeswari temple was released by military after thirty of years of occupation in 2024 but the main access road remained under military custody. 

The move came in the wake of annual festival of the Hindu shrine is scheduled to commence on July 20.  In 2024, military released the temple and surrounding civilian lands but the main road was not returned to public use. 

With the civilian lands were fenced off after those lands were given to its rightful owners, the temple was isolated with its maim road remain closed by security forces. 

The Temple Trustee Board requested government and National People’s Power (NPP) Parliamentarians in Jaffna urging to them release the road. 

Under the current procedure, devotees will be allowed to access the temple road after their personal details are registered by the security forces at the entrance. (Northeastern Monitor/ July 17/ 2026)