During a parliamentary session, Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) parliamentarian for the Vanni District, Dr P. Sathiyalingam, questioned the Sri Lankan government over the continued military occupation of civilian lands in Vavuniya - including the site of an LTTE cemetery.
Addressing the Minister of Defence, Sathiyalingam asked whether the Moondrumurippu–Thatchankulam main road, which remains under the control of the Sri Lankan Air Force, would be reopened for public use and if the surrounding civilian-owned lands would be released.
In response, the State Minister of Defence said that “due to prevailing security considerations,” it was not presently possible to release the land or reopen the road. He added that “alternative routes are available for public use.”
Dr Sathiyalingam, however, pointed out that these alternate routes were only suitable for two-wheelers and urged the government to consider a special budgetary allocation in 2026 to repair and upgrade them.
The Minister replied that the matter would be taken up at the Vavuniya District Development Committee meeting and that efforts would be made to secure special funding for the rehabilitation of the road.
The ITAK MP also raised concern that several key sites in Vavuniya continue to remain under military control, including:
• the land belonging to the Vavuniya Municipal Council, where the Vavuniya Police Station is located;
• the private land at Eechankulam, where a Thuyilumillam (cemetery for fallen LTTE cadres) stands; and
• the property of the Chettikulam cooperative society, currently occupied by a Special Task Force (STF) camp.
Dr Sathiyalingam noted that despite more than sixteen years having passed since the end of the armed conflict, these lands have yet to be released to their rightful civilian owners.
The continued occupation of Tamil-owned lands by Sri Lankan security forces remains a major grievance across the North-East, with Tamils repeatedly calling for the return of their property and an end to military encroachment.
