Tamil voters express betrayal as NPP govt. delays northern land releases

Displaced landowners in Valikamam North staged their 26th consecutive Friday protest outside a military site, accusing the government of failing to honour pledges to return occupied ancestral land.

They gathered in heavy rain outside the military commander's bungalow in Myliddy, Jaffna, representing affected families from four Grama Niladhari divisions who were original residents before being displaced in June 1990.

Protesters expressed outrage after the administration failed to meet its promised September deadline for returning properties held within the High Security Zone.

Residents pointed out that official claims regarding recent land releases were misleading because the 11.23 acres returned by the military in Jaffna consisted of state land rather than privately owned residential property.

Frustration deepened following a recent announcement by Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, who asked for an additional two to three months to process the land releases.

Protestors noted that this delay follows earlier unfulfilled assurances that land would be handed back in April and September.

Protest actions have now spread beyond Myliddy, with parallel demonstrations taking place near Palaly Junction and in the Vasavilan area.

Local representative groups stated that they have been systematically excluded from divisional coordinating committee meetings.

Electoral promises under scrutiny

Community members highlighted that the government secured significant support in Jaffna based on explicit campaign commitments that civilian lands would be returned to their owners.

Local political figures remarked that the current government has spent two years repeating the same excuses without delivering tangible progress.

Protesters criticised ruling party parliamentarians, including local national list appointees, for failing to visit the demonstration site or directly engage with displaced families.

The affected villagers emphasised that they have been denied access to their homes for more than 17 years since the end of the armed conflict.