Tamil landowners in Thaiyiddy, Jaffna, have renewed their demands for the removal of the illegally constructed Tissa Vihara and the return of their ancestral lands, as calls for a united resistance intensify.
Speaking at a press conference at the Jaffna Press Club last week, landowner Sarujan Sukumari called for all parties to unite in reclaiming the lands that rightfully belong to Tamil families.
"The land where the illegal temple is located in Thaiyiddy is our ancestral land. They have illegally built a temple there and are now trying to seize more land around it. This cannot be allowed," Sukumari stated.
She urged public organisations, university students, civil society groups, and political parties to set aside any differences and rally behind the landowners in their struggle.
Sukumari also dismissed claims that the land belonged to a Buddhist temple from ancient times, challenging those making such claims to provide documentary evidence to support their assertions.
"We have all the documents that prove this is our ancestral land. But now they claim that it was a temple since the time of Devanambiyatheesan (an ancient ruler). If that is true, let them show their documents," she demanded.
Landowners also exposed the complicity of government officials in allowing the illegal construction of the temple. Sukumari revealed that a Buddhist organisation had written to the Jaffna District Secretary in December 2024, requesting 14 acres of land surrounding the vihara be handed over for expansion. Copies of this letter were reportedly sent to the Northern Province Governor and the Tellippalai Divisional Secretary.
Even when Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake visited Jaffna in January 2025, officials remained silent on the issue.
"Even though MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam spoke about the illegal temple at the District Coordination Committee meeting chaired by the President, the District Secretary and the Northern Province Governor remained silent," she said.
Despite local objections and documented proof that the shrine was built illegally on private Tamil land, successive government officials have failed to intervene.
Sukumari recalled how the construction of the temple was discussed in District and Divisional Coordination Committee meetings, where resolutions were passed to stop it. However, these decisions were never implemented, and the authorities’ inaction enabled the completion of the vihara.
"The illegal temple has now been completely finished because government officials remained silent. We raised objections when it was being built and complained to the authorities," she said.
"At least now, we demand that there will be no more indifference to our land. The authorities must take steps to return it to us."
Another landowner, Balasubramaniam Baskaran, appealed directly to students of Jaffna University, urging them to raise awareness among their Sinhala classmates about the issue.
He reminded the gathering of the active role Jaffna University students have played in Tamil struggle, and called for their support in this latest battle against land grabs and Sinhalisation.
Baskaran also expressed frustration with the National People’s Power (NPP) government, revealing that before the parliamentary elections, party members had met with Tamil landowners and made promises to take action. However, since coming to power, the situation remains unchanged.
"The promises before the election are the same after the election. But we need action to be taken."
Tamil landowners in Thaiyiddy remain firm in their demand for the restoration of their lands. "Our land is ours, and we will not give it up to anyone for any reason," Sukumari declared.