Last Thursday the Sri Lankan Army officially released the headquarters building of the Achchuveli Multipurpose Cooperative Society, along with approximately 8 acres of surrounding land, which had been under military control for nearly three decades.
This land Identified for cultivating medicinal herbs for a Siddha medical center was occupied by the military in 1996, and they have maintained control over it.
The land and building, located in the Valikamam East Division, were formally handed over by the Sri Lankan military to the Divisional Secretary earlier today. Subsequently, the Divisional Secretary transferred the property to the General Manager of the Achchuveli Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
It is noteworthy that until now, the cooperative society’s headquarters had been operating from an alternative location due to the occupation of the military.
Despite the release of military occupied land, there are still land grab attempts of Tamil land across the homeland made by the Sri Lankan state. Local residients who protest against these land grab attempts are often met with state surveillance and intimidation.
