Tamils are demanding their land back from forced acquisition for a president’s house in Jaffna that started construction during the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Stiff opposition awaited survey department officers who went there on the orders of the divisional secretary of Thelippalai yesterday (15) to survey the property.
Two months ago, media reported this president’s house would be leased to the SLIIT as per a decision taken at a meeting chaired by presidential advisor Sagala Ratnayake.
The 29-acre property has a building complex built on a state-owned plot of 12 acres.
Tamils say the remaining 17 acres that belong to them were acquired by the Navy after they fled their homes due to the war in 1990.
They fear that the land is going to be handed over to the Urban Development Authority.
Failing to answer their questions, surveyors left with a letter given by the people that they were against the transfer of their land to the Survey Department or their leasing.