News
Myliddy fisherfolk hopeful of going back home
After languishing in temporary camps and rented homes for 27 years, the fisher-folk of Myliddy in Valikaamam north, Jaffna, had the first glimmer of hope of returning home, although there is a long way to go.
The Myliddy fisheries harbour. Pix by Thayalan
The government on Monday returned some 54 acres of land in the coastal belt of Myliddy including the fisheries harbour to the people. In a ceremony held close to the fisheries harbour, Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Darshana Hettiarachchi officially handed over the released lands to Jaffna District Secretary N.Vethanayahan.
In its heyday in the1980s, Myliddy one of the major fisheries harbours in the country contributed significantly to the fisheries industry. With the war the Kankesanthurai port along with the fisheries harbour became High Security Zone (HSZ).
Pillayaan Thavam, a 70-year old fisherman from Myliddy village has been living in Konappulam resettlement village in Valikaamam north for the past 17 years since being displaced by the war in 1990. He is hopeful that his ancestral lands close to the fisheries jetty would be returned to him by the army.
“Before we start fishing here, we need to resettle in our own lands first. At the moment no facilities have been provided families who want to resettle in their lands,” Thavam told the Sunday Times.
Local civil society leaders voiced the same concern pointing out that much needed to be done before thousands of displaced Myliddy residents could be resettled..
Hopeful residents at the official handing over ceremony
Myliddy Resettlement Committee vice president Ponnusamy Ranjan said only 54 acres along the beach coastal belt of the harbour had been released and part of the port is still under army control.
“We urge the authorities to release the rest of the lands for the meaningful resettlement of our villagers who have been struggling to go home for years.
Some of the children never knew they once had a home in Myliddy,” he said, while emphasising the need for urgent assistance to the families who are planning to return to their lands.
Meanwhile Jaffna District Secretary said at least 5,400 acres of land in the district is still under the control of the forces and steps are being taken to release them in a phased out basis.
He said they were in the process of getting information on those who wanted to return in order to assist them.
He said the Fisheries Ministry was holding discussions with foreign donor organisations to reconstruct the Myliddy fisheries harbour which would benefit thousands of fisher-folk and help revive the northern economy.