After more than three decades, the road connecting Vasavilan Junction to Palali in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province has been officially reopened—but under heavy military restrictions that continue to limit civilian access to the surrounding areas.
Despite the road’s reopening, original landowners remain barred from entering or resettling on their land.
According to Jaffna-based journalist Kumanan who posted on X, formerly Twitter the newly opened road remains heavily regulated with the following restrictions in place:
- A strict 40 km/h speed limit
- Roadblocks and military checkpoints
- Surveillance towers for security monitoring
- A ban on photography along the route
- Prohibition of lorry movement
While the reopening is being portrayed as a milestone, many in the North have expressed concern that true access and land rights remain elusive.
Minister Bimal Rathnayake commented on X, formerly Twitter:
“After 35 years Jaffna–Palali road is now fully opened. After analysing security aspects and peoples’ needs, the Ministry of Defence opened 2/3 of the road a few months ago & we appreciate the decision to open the road fully from today (10 April).”
An access road—linking Palali Road, Vasavilan Junction, and Tholakatty Junction—was reopened in November 2024 by Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Chandana Wickramasinghe.
The 1.25-kilometre stretch, closed since 1990 due to the civil war, falls within a High-Security Zone (HSZ) that still covers thousands of acres of civilian land.
