LANDLOCKED A Visual narrative of some of the Land conflicts in Northern and eastern provinces in Sri lanka.

The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) research in the North and East demonstrates accusations against the Department of Archaeology and others of bias towards promoting Buddhist historicity. From Kuchchaveli to Kurunthumalai, lands belonging to and used by minorities are being appropriated, disrupting religious inclusivity and coexistence. Work done by the Department of Archaeology and other actors often target Hindu worship sites, asserting they were once Buddhist, triggering conflict and threatening livelihoods. For example, in Thannimurippu, Mullaitivu, conflicts have arisen over the religious site in Kurunthumalai. Another example is the Vedukkunaarimalai temple in Vavuniya that has seen for several years violence and tension. Similar concerns persist in Pulmoddai, Trincomalee with increasing numbers of newly emerging Buddhist sites. The following images capture contested sites in Kurunthumalai, Kuchchaveli and Vedukkunari Hill.

An early Brahmi script in the Veddukunari hill. The script fuels conflict of who originally owned the land.

“Suyambu Lingam”, a naturally formed lingam at the Vedukkunarimalai Aathi Linkeswarar temple. This self-standing lingam is at an impressive height of 15 feet. These photographs held by Mr. Poobalasingam, president of the temple's trust board of the Vedukkunari Hill Aathi Lingeswarar Temple were captured during a visit to the temple in the 1990s.

On the 26th of March 2023, following the distressing incident of the statues within the Vedukkunari Hill Aathi Lingeswarar Temple being demolished and idols discarded, the venerable linga statue was relocated to the house of the temple’s priest. The photo depicts the priest holding the linga statue at his house.

The remains of vandalized statues, including the broken Amman statue, which was damaged by an unidentified group at the Vedukkunarimalai Nagathampiran temple on the 26th of March 2023. The remains are now placed at the back of the temple.

After the demolition of the Shiva linga statue in March 2023, a new Shiva linga statue was installed on the 26th of April 2023, accompanied by the Trisula emblem that has long symbolized the Vedukkunari mountain. Locals say that they worshiped the linga statue on the 23rd of March 2023 and when they went back to the temple on the 26th of March it was demolished. Exact dates and times of demolition remain unclear.

In Kurunthumalai, Aathi Sivan Iyanar Temple Mullaitivu, tensions erupted when the Archaeological Department declared a disputed site as a Buddhist shrine in 2021, despite locals using it as the Kurunthoor Aathi Sivan Iyanar Temple for a long period of time. Subsequently, Hindu Tamil religious activities were banned, leading to the area being cordoned off. Thereafter, steps were taken to construct a stupa named “Kurunthi Stupa”, denying locals access for their rituals. The site's history, showcasing both Tamil and Sinhala architecture, remains ambiguous fueling debates over whether the Stupa or the Temple holds precedence.

Mr. Manickam Nadarajah, One among the farmers who lost their farming land due to the establishment of Sapthanaha Pabbatha Wana Senasuna, Thiriyai holds his hopes of gaining their farmland back. Sapthanaha Pabbatha Wana Senasuna located 22 km from Trincomalee town, Thiriyai Village falls within the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat.

“Samudragiri Pichchamal Vihraya” located in Kuchchaveli village, about 33 km North of Trincomalee, on a small rocky outcrop about 4 km to the North where the Yan Oya meets the sea. The outcrop is known as “Karadi Malai” in Tamil. Locals stated that a small Pillayar statue existed at the foothills of Karadi Malai which was worshiped for many years. CPA was informed that the Samudragiri Pichchamal temple was restored on an ancient brick stupa. News reports state that a Sanskrit inscription dating back to the 6th century has information about the inauguration of the Buddhist temple.