(Sri Lanka Brief/14 October 2025)
In a significant move toward reconciliation and restoring civilian access to public spaces, the Sri Lanka Army has officially handed over land in Karaitivu, Ampara, which had been occupied for over 35 years, back to the local community.
The land, spanning half an acre, was home to the Karaitivu Army Camp, established in 1990 and operated by the 10th Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. On Friday, October 10, the land was formally handed over to Karaitivu Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Subramaniam Bhaskaran of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) party.
During the military occupation, the Karaitivu Pradeshiya Sabha office and the public library, which were originally located on the premises, had to be relocated. The return of the land now paves the way for these essential public services to be restored to their original location, benefiting local residents, especially students who had faced difficulties due to limited access to educational resources.
The handover ceremony was attended by Eastern Province military officials, local government representatives, and community leaders. The move follows cabinet-level decisions aimed at reducing the number of military camps in the Northern and Eastern provinces, a long-standing demand by civil society and Tamil political representatives.
Local residents and activists have welcomed the decision, noting that it marks a positive step toward demilitarization and restoring civilian control over public lands. The Karaitivu land handover is expected to be the first in a series of similar releases of military-occupied lands in the region.
This development also comes amid broader efforts to address post-war grievances and rebuild trust between the state and communities in the Eastern Province, which were heavily affected during the civil conflict.