Tensions have emerged in Omanthai, Vavuniya District, after reports that the occupying Sri Lankan police are attempting to seize a plot of land adjacent to the Omanthai Police Station along the A9 highway to construct a Buddhist vihara.
Local residents have raised concerns that police officers cleared the disputed land on Monday without consent from its long-time caretaker, a local Tamil resident who has maintained the land for years. Though the individual does not possess formal ownership documentation, he has reportedly filed complaints with both the Divisional Secretary and the District Government Agent, asserting that the land belongs to him.
Despite his longstanding use and care of the land, the lack of official documentation has left it classified as state land, opening the door for state institutions, such as the police, to assert control. Residents allege that during the clearing process, the Sri Lankan police intimidated the caretaker and ignored his appeals to halt the work.
It is alleged that the land is now earmarked for the construction of a Buddhist vihara, a move that has sparked local opposition. While the police have not publicly confirmed the plans, the timing and nature of the clearing have led to fears that another instance of state-backed land appropriation in the Tamil homeland is underway.
This incident comes amid broader concerns over state-sponsored Sinhalisation in the North-East, where Tamils have consistently reported attempts to alter the demographic and cultural landscape of historically Tamil areas. The construction of Buddhist temples in locations with no significant Buddhist population, often adjacent to military or police installations, has been a particularly contentious issue.
Residents are now calling on Members of Parliament representing the Vanni District to intervene immediately, urging them to protect the rights of local residents and to ensure the land is restored to its rightful occupant.
Despite repeated appeals, authorities have yet to provide a resolution or respond publicly to the complaints filed by the land’s caretaker.
