The seizure of Tamil homeland under the guise of archaeology: The Sinhalese-Buddhist Chauvinist Injustice Unfolded in Kiran and the Courageous Rejection by the Tamil National Local Council in Defence of Ancestral Tamil Lands!

Introduction

In the post-war Tamil homeland of Eelam, the denial of Tamil rights has continued in multiple forms, evolving into systematic efforts that threaten the very existence of the Tamil people. Among these, one of the most dangerous and long-term destructive strategies is the organised land grab carried out under the banner of the Sinhalese-Buddhist Department of Archaeology.

The recent incident in the Kiran area, which falls under the Koralaipattu Divisional Council, stands as a historically significant act of lawful resistance by a Tamil National local authority against this aggressive occupation policy. This is not a routine administrative dispute; it is a stark manifestation of the broader, structurally engineered encroachment on the Tamil homeland.

Sinhalese Chauvinist Domination Imposed on Local Governance

In any democratic system, actions undertaken by central government departments must receive the legal consent of local administrative bodies. According to Sri Lanka’s Pradeshiya Sabha Act No. 15 of 1987, even the placement of a single marker stone within the jurisdiction of a local council requires prior approval from the respective authority.

However, the Sinhalese-Buddhist Department of Archaeology blatantly violated this legal framework by installing name boards in the Kiran area without any permission from the Koralaipattu Divisional Council. This action not only defies the law but also reflects a deliberate attempt to undermine Tamil local governance structures. Under the leadership of the Council Chairman, the immediate removal of these illegal boards by council members and staff represents a courageous and democratic assertion of Tamil administrative sovereignty. This was not merely an act of protest; it was the defence of historical justice and ancestral land protection.

Land Grabbing Disguised as Archaeology: A Tool of Sinhalisation

The strategic use of “archaeology” as a pretext to impose Sinhalese-Buddhist identity on Tamil ancestral lands has been a long-standing tactic. Once an area is declared an archaeological site, it is removed from the control of the local population and placed entirely under state authority. This opens the door for the construction of Buddhist temples, military posts, and Sinhalese settlements, thereby systematically altering the ethnic and cultural landscape.

The Kiran incident is perceived by the local Tamil population as yet another stage in this calculated process. The fear that their agricultural lands and traditional livelihoods would be permanently seized compelled the people to protest, leading the council to act decisively. This response is rooted not in speculation but in historical experience and collective political consciousness shaped by decades of displacement and demographic engineering.

This is not a mere administrative error; it is a calculated political manoeuvre forming part of a broader programme aimed at dismantling the Tamil national identity.

Linguistic Marginalisation and Ethnic Injustice

The language used on the installed name boards further exposes the discriminatory nature of the act. In a region predominantly inhabited by Tamil-speaking people, the exclusion or minimisation of the Tamil language and the prioritisation of Sinhala represent a direct violation of linguistic rights.

Language is the soul of a people. To suppress it is to attack the historical continuity and cultural existence of that community. This constitutes a systematic form of ethnic domination embedded within administrative mechanisms, reinforcing structural inequality and symbolic erasure.

Law, Authority and People’s Power: A New Phase of Tamil National Resistance

The actions taken by the Kiran Divisional Council represent a legally grounded assertion of rights, setting a precedent for democratic resistance across the Tamil homeland. This incident serves as a warning against the unchecked authority of central state institutions operating in Tamil regions under coercive pretexts.

Should such aggressive central interventions continue, the unity and resolve of Tamil national politics will inevitably strengthen, forging a collective front grounded in law, people’s power, and historical legitimacy.

Conclusion

The courageous stand taken by the Kiran Divisional Council is a clear Tamil National response to Sinhalese-Buddhist chauvinist aggression. It is a democratic resistance grounded in legality and driven by a commitment to protect the ancestral homeland.

As injustice, land seizure, and systemic marginalisation persist despite changing regimes, the only path forward remains sustained resistance rooted in legal authority and collective will. The Kiran incident stands as a defining milestone in the struggle to secure Tamil land rights, linguistic dignity, and cultural sovereignty.

This moment must not fade into obscurity; it must become a historical testimony and a seed of political consciousness for future generations. It symbolises not only resistance, but the unyielding spirit of a nation determined to safeguard its homeland.

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Written by  Eelaththu Nilavan
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23/11/2025