Sri Lanka, June 28 -- The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday issued an interim order suspending the operation of a government gazette that sought to claim over 5,900 acres of land across four districts in the Northern Province as state land.

The interim relief was granted in response to a Fundamental Rights application filed by former Parliamentarian and senior attorney M. A. Sumanthiran, who challenged the legality and constitutionality of the gazette, warning of its potentially devastating impact on residents of the region.

The gazette in question, bearing number 2430 and dated March 28, 2025, had declared that lands in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Mullaitivu districts would be deemed state land unless individuals claiming ownership cam...