Northern Province Governor N. Vedanayagan has sharply criticized the Survey and Forest Departments for refusing to release lands to residents of the Kilinochchi district, citing a lack of certain documents. Speaking at the first quarterly District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday at the District Secretariat conference hall, Governor Vedanayagan emphasized that the restoration of people’s homes and livelihoods must take precedence over bureaucratic formalities.
During the session, District Secretary S. Muralitharan revealed that although a request had been submitted to the Forest Department to release 10,821 acres of land, the department had only recommended the release of 1,088 acres. Officials reportedly cited incomplete documentation as the reason for withholding approval for the remaining land, sparking concern among local administrators and residents alike.
Despite the Forest Department’s reluctance, the District Coordination Committee unanimously approved the release of the full 10,821 acres. The District Secretary highlighted that the Cabinet has instructed that comprehensive details of the lands to be released must be submitted for the committee’s review by the 28th of this month, signaling a high-level oversight on the issue.
Governor Vedanayagan made his position clear during the meeting, stating that withholding lands meant for residential and livelihood purposes due to missing paperwork is entirely unacceptable. He called on the Forest Department to fully comply with the District Secretariat’s recommendations, stressing that the people’s rights and access to their lands must be restored without further delay.
