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Shivajilingam urges President not to acquire privately-owned lands in North
By Dinasena Ratugamage
Former Northern Provincial Councillor M.K. Shivajilingam on Saturday (31) urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to refrain from taking over privately-owned lands to expand military camps.
He said that the government was trying to take over 400 acres from Mullaitivu to expand a Navy camp and that was unjust. The government should hand over private lands to their rightful owners and use state lands for government initiatives.
Addressing a gathering in Mullaitivu, Shivajilingam said the government was taking over land from licence holders of the Northern Province and that the people lived in fear of losing their properties.
“I urge the President to look at this and address the concerns of the people. There are a lot of people who hold various land titles in the North. Most people don’t own freehold land. Those with various land licences are worried that they will be evicted at any time,” he said.