Hartal in North-East presses for PTA repeal, land Rights, and PC elections

Several Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern provinces have announced a hartal today (18) to press for solutions on key issues, including the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, holding provincial council elections, and resolving land disputes affecting the Tamil community.

Batticaloa District ITAK leader MP Shanakyan Rasamanickam said that the strike would be led by leaders of three Tamil and three Muslim parties representing the region in Parliament.

Two other MPs, Ramanathan Archuna and Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam, have pledged support but have not publicly opposed the hartal.

Rasamanickam said the protest aims to present demands without threatening national security.

He highlighted the hardships faced by ordinary residents under military control over lands, schools, and pits, noting that in Mullaitivu District, as many as 11 civilians are reportedly monitored by a single army personnel.

Military agricultural activities on these lands, he said, have caused economic difficulties for local communities.

Citing the Palaali camp as an example, Rasamanickam said army cultivation of lands, including salt fields, prevents rightful owners from farming.

He also referred to a 7 August incident in Muthu Ayankattu, Oddusuddan, Mullaitivu, where a 32-year-old youth died following an alleged army attack.

Although suspects were arrested, the youth’s life could not be restored. Rasamanickam suggested the death may have been linked to the youth’s absence from a camp that day.

He said his party has formally raised these issues with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and is calling for resolutions through the hartal.

While discussions were held with the President in December last year over disaster-related concerns, follow-up talks on broader Tamil grievances have yet to take place.

Upcountry People’s Front leader V. Radhakrishnan said the hartal would suspend all administrative and commercial activities across the Northern and Eastern provinces, with the support of local trade union leaders.

He added that the Ceylon Workers’ Congress has also pledged full backing for the strike, stressing that local support is crucial to resolving these issues.