The Navy stands accused of taking over 627 acres at Vattuval in Mullivaikkal west.

People of the area say they have deeds for 350 acres out of the land seized by the Navy.

Northern provincial councilor T. Raviharan says defence ministry additional assistant secretary Wasantha Perera held a meeting with the landowners on January 02 at the Mullaitivu district secretariat to transfer the land to the Navy.

Raviharan has told radiogagana.com that he and MP S. Sivamohan as people’s representatives were refused to take part, and were told the meeting was only with the landowners.

President’s promise

The ministry official has made the visit two weeks after president Maithripala Sirisena gave a promise to resettle the war displaced in their own land within six months.

While in Jaffna to attend a Christmas function, he paid a visit to a refugee camp and said a presidential task force would be set up for the purpose.

Talks fail

The discussion had failed as the Mullivaikkal people had pointblank refused to accept compensation for their land.

On the following day, MP Raviharan made inquiries from the people and was given copies of the deeds they have for 350 acres.

He promised them that he would bring the matter to the immediate attention of the provincial chief minister.

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Navy move to take-over M’tivu land opposed