'Stop land grabbing' - Tamils protest against salt project on seized lands in Mullaitivu

Farmers and fishermen staged a protest on Sunday in the Tamil border village of Kokkuthoduvai in the Mullaitivu District, opposing attempts to establish a salt production facility on lands traditionally owned by Tamil farmers in the Kunjukkalveli paddy fields.

The demonstration was organised after reports that a private company from southern Sri Lanka was attempting to move ahead with the construction of salt pans by occupying agricultural lands in the area. Local farmers and fishermen warned that the project would severely affect farming activities and threaten the livelihoods of communities that depend on the nearby Kokkilai lagoon.

The protest took place in the Kunjukkalveli area of Kokkuthoduvai, where protesters say paddy lands are being converted into salt fields. Residents stated that these lands rely on seasonal rainfall for cultivation and have historically been owned and farmed by Tamil families. They added that the lands were later taken over by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, restricting the ability of Tamil farmers to cultivate them.

Participants questioned how permission had been granted for a salt production facility by authorities including the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Mahaweli Authority.

Protesters highlighted what they described as a double standard in land administration. They pointed out that Tamil farmers have previously faced arrest when attempting to cultivate their own lands, yet permission has reportedly been granted to a Sinhala businessman to proceed with the salt project.

Farmers warned that transforming long cultivated paddy fields into salt pans could permanently damage the soil, leaving large areas unsuitable for agriculture in the future.

Fishermen from the area also voiced concerns about the environmental impact of the project. They noted that thousands of fishermen depend on the Kokkilai lagoon for their livelihood, and warned that establishing salt pans in the surrounding area could disrupt the fragile lagoon ecosystem.

According to protesters, changes in water flow and increased salinity could damage fishing grounds and lead to a decline in fish and shrimp populations.

The protest comes despite intervention by local authorities. The Mullaitivu District Secretary reportedly sent a letter on 10 March to the Director General of the Mahaweli Authority requesting an immediate halt to the project and an investigation into the ownership and use of the lands.

However, residents claim that work has continued on the site. Protesters alleged that lands are still being occupied and water is being pumped into the fields in preparation for salt production.

Residents also pointed to the historical context of land ownership in the area. They recalled that in 1984, following a massacre in the Kokkuthoduvai village, the Sri Lankan military expelled Tamil residents from the region. Many families remained displaced for decades and were only allowed to return in 2011.

During the period of displacement, protesters said lands belonging to Tamil farmers were allocated to Sinhala settlers as part of state backed settlement schemes.

Residents further warned that land appropriation has continued even after the end of the armed conflict, particularly through the Mahaweli “L” Zone development project, which they say has facilitated the distribution of lands traditionally owned by the Tamil people to Sinhala settlers.

The proposed salt factory project has therefore intensified long standing concerns among local residents over land appropriation and the continued erosion of Tamil land rights.