The sixth consecutive day of protests by Tamil landowners in Valikamam North, Jaffna, drew wider political backing on Thursday, as Members of Parliament and senior Tamil leaders joined calls for the release of more than 2,400 acres of land still under Sri Lankan military occupation.
Demonstrators have been staging a round-the-clock protest at the Myiliddy junction since last Saturday, demanding the return of lands located within the so-called ‘High Security Zone’ (HSZ). Many of the areas were seized by the military in the 1990s at the height of the armed conflict, displacing thousands of Tamil families.
Despite repeated promises from successive Sri Lankan governments to return the land, vast swathes remain under military control. In many instances, the land is being used for military camps, agricultural activities, or commercial ventures operated by the Sri Lankan army.
On Wednesday and Thursday, several Tamil political figures joined the protest to show their support. Among them were MPs Sivagnanam Shritharan and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Northern Provincial Council Speaker C.V.K. Sivagnanam, former Member of Parliament M.K. Sivajilingam, and Valikamam North Pradeshiya Sabha Chair Somasundaram Sugirthan.
Protesters have vowed to continue their campaign until their lands are returned, refusing to disperse from the location. Many have been preparing and sharing meals at the protest site, turning the demonstration into a sustained act of civil resistance.
The occupation of Tamil lands by the Sri Lankan military continues to be a key grievance in the North-East, more than 16 years after the end of the armed conflict.
.jpg)
Tamil civil society organisations and political parties have long criticised the militarisation of the region, pointing to the slow pace of land releases and the army’s deep entrenchment in civilian life. Calls for demilitarisation and the restitution of land have been central to Tamil demands for justice, accountability, and political autonomy.
