On International Workers’ Day (May 1, 2026), residents of Keppapilavu in Mullaitivu staged a renewed protest demanding the release of lands that remain under Sri Lankan military occupation, nearly two decades after the end of the armed conflict.
The demonstrators, comprising Tamil families from the area, reiterated their longstanding demand for the return of lands seized by the Sri Lankan military in 2009 to establish a large-scale camp. For over 17 years, Keppapilavu residents have sustained a continuous campaign of protests, petitions and advocacy efforts, calling for the right to resettle on their original lands.
Despite limited releases under successive governments, protesters stressed that substantial areas remain under military control. They highlighted that 171 acres are yet to be returned, including 59.5 acres of residential land and 111 acres of agricultural land. The residential areas once supported over 55 families and included homes, schools, places of worship and shared community spaces.
Holding placards and chanting slogans, demonstrators underscored that their struggle extends beyond land ownership, framing it as a fight for dignity, livelihood and the restoration of a community life disrupted since 2009.
Residents also noted that since the current government assumed office, multiple appeals have been made through formal channels, including submissions to the Presidential Secretariat and the Mullaitivu District Secretariat. However, they stated that these efforts have yielded no meaningful progress toward the release of the remaining lands.
Protesters called on Sri Lankan and local authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to return the entirety of the occupied land, enabling displaced families to resettle and rebuild their lives without further delay.