Government accused of land grab in the East
March 31, 2011 10:37 am
The North - East Sinhala Organisation (NESO) accuses the government of land grab in eastern Sri Lanka.
Organisation’s Secretary, RMA
Bandara told journalists in Colombo on Wednesday that the people in these area,
termed as border villages before the war are now faced with what he called a
new form of terrorism.
They lived for three decades with enormous difficulties and numerous threats, he said.
“Even during the war these lands
were cultivated. After the war, government is taking over these lands by giving
out various reasons”, he said.
NESO Secretary said that houses were used as bunkers during the war by police and army, and now lands are being forcibly acquired.
Claims:
He said that the government claim
these lands belong to Port Authority, Archaeological Department, Forest
Conservation and fisheries.
“Terrorists demarcated areas within
their boundaries. But people were able to save their lands; they cultivated
them. There is no war now; the government in power is now grabbing their lands”,
he said. NESO Secretary, Bandara said that India which supported the military
during the war had entered into secret agreements with the Sri Lanka
government.
As part of this agreement, he alleged, the oil tanks farm in Trincomalee has been handed over to Indian Oil Company (IOC).
“India is building a power plant in
Sampur after the Tamil and Muslim population there were displaced. Now plans
are underway to hand down ilmanite plant in Pulmudai to India”,he added.
No land grab
Eastern Provincial Council minister
for Land Wimalaweera Dissanayaka who did not deny the practice of unlawful
utilization of lands told BBC Sandesaya that there are no illegal acquisitions
of lands in the east but .
He said some lands in Hulan Nuge
area were acquired and given to Forest Conservation Department; but later
handed to villagers for cultivation following discussions with the department.
However, the provincial minister said that the provincial council was helpless if land was acquired on ‘security reasons’. (BBC)
