Grandpa had bought our land at that time for 25 rupees. We still have the deed. We have 3 acres of land with palm trees, coconut trees, mango trees and a well. Now the army has fenced it and prohibited entry. In 1990, we first moved to Mullivaikal. We came back to our land in 1998. In 2009 we were displaced again and went to the Chettikulam camp and in 2011 we came to this land where we are living now. In the camps we were like caged birds without even basic facilities. We were given food and some things. But none of that can be compared to drinking a cup of porridge in our own home.
Currently we are living in a small piece of land and sometimes we cannot sleep at night because of the noise from neighboring houses. We protested demanding the return of our land. My mother had a last wish to see that land before she died. It could not be done. I also want to see our land before I die. But the question is whether it can be done. Our land is very fertile. We had good income from it. We would like to see the land where we lived, but now we are not allowed to do so.
Now the things on the land must be in ruins. But the desire to see our land is in my heart because the memories of our childhood are mingled with our land and its soil.
Thilakeshwari
Vattuvakkal, Mullaitivu
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