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Cleaning work began yesterday at the site of Kittu Park in Jaffna, marking the first stage in a long-delayed effort to renovate the historic public space.
Officials from the Jaffna Municipal Council, including the Commissioner and several council members, participated in the initial clean-up operation as preparations began for the park’s redevelopment.
The municipal council has announced that the renovation will begin with the construction of a boundary wall around the site, aimed at protecting the area and preventing further deterioration.
Kittu Park was originally established in memory of Colonel Kittu ( Sathasivam Krishnakumar) the Jaffna District military commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
On 16 January 1993, a vessel carrying ten members of the LTTE, including Kittu, was intercepted in international waters by the Indian Navy and ordered to surrender. Refusing to do so, the group committed suicide.
Following his death, the park was inaugurated in August 1994 at Muthirai Junction in Jaffna, serving as a commemorative space dedicated to Kittu.
The park was later destroyed by the Sri Lankan military, during the Jaffna exodus, as large sections of the population were displaced from the Jaffna peninsula.
In the years that followed, various groups repeatedly called for the park to be rebuilt.
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Around 2010, attempts were made to renovate the site under the name “Sangiliyan Park”, but the project was abandoned before completion.
Despite periodic discussions about restoring the site, no substantial renovation work was carried out in the years that followed. Instead, the location was frequently used for political campaign events, exhibitions and public gatherings, while the original park remained in a state of neglect.
The Jaffna Municipal Council has now decided to proceed with the long-awaited renovation of the park. As part of the first phase of work, the council plans to construct a boundary wall around the area before further development of the site.
Municipal officials joined workers during the clean-up operation carried out yesterday, signalling the beginning of what local authorities say will be a renewed effort to restore the historic park.
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