Farmers in Muthunagar, Trincomalee, have entered the 26th day of their continuous satyagraha protest in front of the Trincomalee District Secretariat, demanding the return of farmlands seized for a Sri Lankan state-backed solar power project.
Dozens of local farmers have maintained their vigil for nearly a month, braving heavy rains and growing frustration at the government’s inaction. The protesters say that while Sri Lankan authorities have repeatedly promised solutions, their livelihoods remain under threat as corporate interests continue to expand over traditional agricultural lands.
Vasantha Mudalige, Executive Committee Member of the All-Island Farmers’ Federation and the People’s Struggle Front, joined the demonstrators once again on Friday to express solidarity. Addressing the protesters, he criticised the government’s failure to deliver on its promises, urging immediate intervention to protect the farmers’ rights and lands.
The protesters noted that only eight days remain for the second phase of the solution pledged by the Sri Lankan Prime Minister, yet no concrete action has been taken.
Meanwhile, tensions flared in Muthunagar yesterday evening (11th), when nine farmers were arrested by the Sri Lankan Police after they attempted to cultivate nearby lands using tractors. These fields were not part of the original seized plots but were used temporarily by displaced farmers trying to sustain themselves.
The arrests have drawn widespread condemnation from local activists, who say the move reflects the government’s hostility towards those resisting land grabs. Farmers told reporters that their livelihoods have been “sustained only through ongoing struggles” and warned that continued repression would only deepen their resolve.
They recalled that during previous demonstrations, five farmers had been arrested and imprisoned for nearly two weeks, severely affecting their families’ income. Despite repeated protests, including sit-ins, marches, and petitions to the government, they say no meaningful progress has been achieved.
At a recent District Coordinating Committee meeting held at the Trincomalee District Secretariat, ruling party Members of Parliament reportedly made contradictory statements about whether the lands allocated to private companies for the solar project would be released back to farmers.
According to the farmers, around 800 acres of agricultural land have been acquired for the solar power development, with approximately 200 acres already cleared. They said that two local reservoirs had been filled in to make way for the project, further jeopardising the region’s delicate water resources.
The protesters continue to hold placards bearing slogans such as “No more false promises,” and “Return the Muthunagar farmlands stolen from farmers and handed over to corporations.”
Despite mounting pressure, the government has yet to announce any concrete steps toward restitution. Farmers have vowed to continue their satyagraha until their lands are returned, accusing authorities of prioritising private companies over the survival of local communities.
Their struggle has become emblematic of a wider crisis facing farmers across the Tamil homeland, where thousands of acres have been seized by the state for so-called “development” projects — often without proper consultation, compensation, or regard for the environment.
