Batticaloa, Sri Lanka – Tamil residents of Kattumurivu, a village in the Vakarai region of Batticaloa, faced a violent assault by Sri Lankan Forest Department officials on February 25. The officials allegedly targeted the residents, intimidating and physically assaulting them, as well as setting fire to their homes. This egregious attack prompted the residents to seek help from Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) MP Ilaiyathambi Srinath, who visited the area to address their concerns.
The attack, which occurred in the Fourth Mile area of Puchchakeni Grama Sevaka Division, involved officials demanding the evacuation of villagers and collecting information to pursue legal action against some community members. Witnesses reported that the officials not only set fire to homes but also subjected the residents to brutal physical assaults.
Upon learning about the incident, civil society activists from Kathiraveli who arrived at the scene were also reportedly attacked and treated as criminals. Srinath condemned the actions of the Forest Department, labeling the attack a violation of human rights. He promptly notified the Vakarai Divisional Secretary and called for an investigation to uncover the full extent of the attack.
In addition to seeking justice for the affected residents, Srinath pledged to engage with Batticaloa District Secretariat to ensure action against those responsible for the violent assault. This incident in Kattumurivu is emblematic of a larger issue of land grabs and state-sponsored violence in Tamil areas, where authorities have displaced local populations under the guise of environmental conservation and development projects.
Human rights activists have been informed about the incident, and formal complaints have been filed with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and other relevant authorities. Srinath reiterated his commitment to holding the perpetrators accountable and vowed to stand in defense of the Tamil community alongside his ITAK colleagues.