Navy move to take-over M’tivu land opposed

Landowners of Mullaitivu have protested against a move by the Navy to take-over 617 acres of land, purportedly to build a new camp, BBC Sandeshaya reports.

Around 48 of the landowners attended a meeting, held by an additional land secretary from Colombo. They handed over a letter to the area’s divisional secretary, saying that they were not prepared to give their land to build a Navy camp. The Navy wants the very same land returned to their owners after the war, for which they have licences, said the landowners. One of them is deputy chairman of northern provincial council Anthony Jeganathan, who said the area wanted by the Navy extends from Vattuval bridge in Mullaitivu to Pudukudirippu town from one side and from Nandikadal lagoon to the beach from the other side. Land could be taken-over despite objections When landowners argued that such a large extent of land was not needed to build a Navy camp, officials told them that a final decision was yet to be taken, but that if the government decides, the land could be takenover despite their objections, said Jeganathan. This area is important for the tourism industry and land value has gone up due to his importance in that the final war had taken place there. Landowners pointed out to officials that they suspect a certain group was trying to takeover the land by deceiving them. They stressed that they would not give their land on the basis of either alternative land or compensation. When the Navy and the Army media centres were contacted to obtain further information, BBC Sandeshaya has been told to speak to the defence secretary.