Kilinochchi IDPs demand land back from Sri Lankan military  16 July 2016

Tamil internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Paravipanchan, Kilinochchi this week requested government to take action to allow them to be settled into their own homes. 

The Sri Lankan military continues to occupy 17.2 acres of land owned by the 52 families, who remained displaced since the end of the armed conflict. 

Paravipanchan, an area within Kilinochchi town, was previously the site of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) political headquarters, including the organisation's peace secretariat as well as media and educational offices.

The families held a protest last Saturday demanding their land and homes to be released to them. The symbolic hunger strike was the latest in a series of demonstrations by the families who have been protesting against the army occupation since 2012. 

On July 10, the families met with the Kilinochchi district's government agent and made a further request for the last to be released, with a petition handed over to the official on Tuesday.