Northern Province Governor N. Vedanayagan denounces bureaucratic obstruction in the release of 10,821 acres in Kilinochchi, warning that missing documents cannot override people’s land rights, livelihoods, and post conflict resettlement efforts.
Northern Province Governor N. Vedanayagan has delivered a strong rebuke to the Survey and Forest Departments over what he described as an unjustified delay in releasing lands to residents of Kilinochchi. Addressing the first quarterly District Coordination Committee meeting at the District Secretariat, the Governor stressed that land release for displaced families must take priority over procedural technicalities and administrative red tape.
The controversy centers on a formal request submitted to the Forest Department seeking the release of 10,821 acres for civilian resettlement and livelihood restoration. District Secretary S. Muralitharan disclosed that only 1,088 acres had been recommended for release, with officials citing incomplete documentation for the remaining extent. The disparity has raised concerns among local administrators and affected residents who have long awaited access to their ancestral lands.
Despite resistance from the Forest Department, the District Coordination Committee unanimously approved the release of the entire 10,821 acres. The District Secretary further revealed that the Cabinet has instructed comprehensive land details to be submitted for review by the 28th of this month, indicating high level government oversight in resolving the land dispute.
Governor Vedanayagan made it clear that withholding residential and livelihood lands due to missing paperwork is unacceptable. He urged the Forest Department to comply fully with the District Secretariat’s recommendations and emphasized that restoring land rights in the Northern Province is essential for reconciliation, economic recovery, and sustainable development. For families in Kilinochchi, this is not a paperwork issue but a matter of dignity and survival.
