Farmers from Muthunagar in Trincomalee have marked more than 50 days of consecutive protest, vowing not to abandon their struggle until their land is returned and a just solution is secured.
Since early September, the farmers have maintained a continuous peaceful satyagraha in front of the Trincomalee District Secretariat, demanding the reversal of a government decision to lease their agricultural lands to private companies for solar power projects. The lands in question have been cultivated by local families for generations and remain the primary source of livelihood for many in the area.
Protesters say that despite weeks of demonstrations, letters to officials, and repeated appeals, the government under Anura Kumara Dissanayake has failed to provide any meaningful response. Farmers allege that their land was allocated to private firms without consultation, proper compensation, or an alternative arrangement for their survival.
Several similar disputes have emerged across the Tamil homeland in recent months, where communities have accused Colombo of pushing large-scale energy and infrastructure schemes without local consent. In Mannar, residents have staged more than 80 days of continuous protest against wind power projects imposed on their coastal villages.
Farmers in Muthunagar say they have been left with no choice but to continue their Satyagraha until the government acknowledges their demands. Many have expressed fear that the loss of farmland will permanently destroy their economic security and displace future generations.
