Colombo: Vanni District MP Thurairajah Ravikaran, speaking in Parliament on March 20, delivered a strongly worded address highlighting ongoing land disputes in the North and East, and raising serious concerns over the role of the Mahaweli Authority in those regions.

Opening his remarks, Ravikaran referred to a recent statement by the President, who had described land as more than property—“a relative” deeply connected to people, ancestry, and culture. While welcoming that sentiment, the MP stressed that such principles must be reflected in action, particularly in the North and East where land remains central to identity and livelihood.

He noted that land-related grievances have historically been at the heart of conflict in the region, and said people continue to struggle to reclaim lands taken over in the past. At the same time, he observed that sections of the public still place hope in the current leadership to act with fairness.

Ravikaran highlighted that Tamil communities across Vavuniya North, Mullaitivu, Keppapulavu, Mullikulam, Trincomalee, Amparai and Batticaloa are engaged in ongoing efforts to recover lands they consider their own, emphasizing that these lands are intrinsically linked to their heritage and cultural continuity.

Drawing attention to a specific incident, the MP alleged that on the same day as the President’s remarks, the Mahaweli Authority had attempted to occupy agricultural lands in the Kokku Thoduvai area within the Karayuraipattru Divisional Secretariat Division in Mullaitivu. He stated that these lands are privately owned and recorded under official survey maps, and therefore fall outside the Authority’s jurisdiction.

He further claimed that the lands had been leased to a private individual, with construction of a salt pan already underway, creating tension among local residents. Ravikaran called for an immediate investigation into the matter and urged authorities to take appropriate action.

“Since 1988, the Mahaweli Authority in the Northern Province, with the support of successive governments, has been carrying out activities that amount to structural genocide under the guise of development, including the occupation of indigenous Tamil lands, the renaming of Tamil villages with Sinhalese names, and the facilitation of new Sinhala settlements,” he alleged.

Expanding his criticism, the MP said such actions over several decades have contributed to demographic and cultural changes in the Northern Province.

He warned that these developments risk heightening tensions between communities and undermining prospects for lasting peace.

Concluding his speech, Ravikaran made a forceful appeal to Parliament, questioning the very basis of the Mahaweli Authority’s role in the North.

He pointed out that Mahaweli waters do not even flow to these areas, arguing that the Authority’s presence cannot be justified under development.

“I ask this Honourable House to immediately remove the Mahaweli Authority from our areas,” he said, stressing that its very presence was tantamount to a “death sentence” for the Tamil people.