A new campaign is underway to demand the Tamil-majority Kalmunai North in Ampara be upgraded to a fully-powered divisional secretariat.
For nearly four decades, it has been functioning as a subdivisional secretariat without monetary and land powers.
On 25 March, Tamil residents launched a protest in front of the office carrying placards that display their demand.
Civil society activist Thamodaram Pradeepan said the subdivisional secretariat does not get any development funds.
A cabinet decision was taken in 1993 to upgrade it to a divisional secretariat, but various issues remain unresolved in its implementation, he said.
More than 300 petitions to authorities remain unanswered.
TNPF’s Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam raised the issue in parliament on 28 November 2023.
Tamils there who live in 29 Grama Niladhari divisions say they are forced to seek services at the Muslim-majority Kalmunai South divisional secretariat.
