SL Navy silently extends occupation of coastal lands at Kirimichchai in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 October 2019, 23:24 GMT]
The occupying Sinhala military’s naval detachment in Batticaloa, “SLNS Kashyapa,” has silently extended the appropriation of lands at Kirimichchai, a coastal cashew farming area located 44 km north of Batticaloa city. The military land grab has been going on for the last ten months. However, the SL Navy has not obtained necessary permissions from the civil authorities at the district or divisional level, informed administrative sources said. In the meantime, residents in the area have witnessed accelerated construction activities inside the military zone. It is not known whether the SL Navy is converting the coastal stretch into a military-operated tourist resort or an industry, they said.

With a letter coming from the SL Defence Secretary in Colombo, the SL Navy had approached the Sinhala Provincial Land Commissioner in the East in 2015. The encroachment took place much later, the officials said on condition of anonymity. The only person questioning about this encroachment was TNA Parliamentarian Seenithamby Yogeswaran, they said.

Kirimichchai Junction was the SL Army point when the LTTE controlled the Vaakarai region before 2007.

The SL Army was occupying the Cashew farm during the war and its aftermath.

The SL Navy established its Naval Deployment in September 2010. Later, it was upgraded as a ‘Regional Security Center’ with detachments functioning in Kathirave'li, Vaazhaich-cheanai, Katkudaa, Ka'luvaangkea'ni, Dutch Bar, Koduvaa-madu, Batticaloa, Naduth-thu'rai and Katkudaa-ve'li.

Chronology: