New gym for Sri Lankan soldiers at Mullivaikkal

The Sri Lankan Army has constructed a utility building complex at their occupying camp in Mullivaikkal, the site of massacres in 2009, which includes a gym and a barbershop for the military's stationed soldiers.

The new complex includes a tailor shop, barber saloon and a fully equipped gymnasium, in addition to several other wings at the 66 Division HQ at Nandikadal.

Sri Lanka's Major General Sanjaya Wanasinghe cut a ribbon and declared the new facility open in a ceremony last week.

The ongoing and expanding militarisation of the North-East comes despite Sri Lanka undergoing an unprecedented economic crisis, with burgeoning government spending and climbing international debts.