People of the Wanni are in a protest campaign over the government’s failure to fulfill a promise to release their traditional land being occupied by the military.
On July 05, the protestors carried placards, banners and shouting slogans, marched to the main entrance of the security forces headquarters in Mullaitivu.
They said they are in severe difficulties due to the loss of livelihoods without their land.
Army’s assurance to release 59.5 acres of land belonging to 56 families by the end of last month has not been met, said the protestors.
Each family has been given a quarter-acre plot from a land adjacent to the military camp.
They demanded the return of their own land and the camp’s removal.
Since 2007, the military has released private land at Kepapilav in Mullaitivu back to their owners, but still occupies a considerable extent of land there.
