Genocidal land grab extended to new division in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 July 2012, 22:18 GMT]
The SL state-sponsored genocidal land grab has now reached to Ea'raavoorpattu (Chengkaladi) DS division, civil sources in Batticaloa said. In recent days, Sinhala settlers have cleared several acres of forest along Magncha'l Aaru, located 5 km east of Maha Oya junction on A5 (Chengkaladi-Badulla) highway, renaming the area in Sinhala as ‘Mangalagama’. The Colombo based authorities of the SL state, which have taken over the administration of rivers, reservoirs, and ponds from the district-based irrigation authorities since 2009, are depriving the livelihood of Tamils by appropriating cultivation lands and the water sources used for inland fishing.

The Sinhala settlers from 36th, 38th and 40th colonies located along the border of Batticaloa-Ampaa'rai districts are deployed in the appropriation of forest lands in Ea'raavoorpattu division.

The genocidal land grab is taking place encapsulating the water sources.

After 2009, all reservoirs used for inland fishing and rivers have been brought under the control of Sri Lanka's Economic Development Ministry in Colombo, run by SL presidential sibling Basil Rajapaksa.

Since then Tamil fisher families are prevented from inland fishing in these tanks that are located along the border of the two districts.

All revenue derived from the district, under the guise of development, goes to the Colombo government.

Tamil people along the district borders complain that they are blocked from engaging in inland fishing.

While the cultivation lands are being appropriated, the latest move of grabbing forestlands in Chengkaladi division has also deprived the Tamil people to engage in slash-and-burn cultivation.

Earlier, large-scale land grab, backed by the occupying Sri Lanka Army, was reported in Koa'ra'laippattu South (Kudumpimalai) divsion situated north of Ea'raavoorpattu division, and in the Ma'nmunai South-West (Paddippazhai) division in the south.

In Ma'nmunai South-West (Paddippazhai), Sinhalese from the border areas of the two districts, who had started encroaching lands at 9th Mile Post and Kevu'liamadu in DS division later extended the land grab to Kachchatkodi and Suvaami-malai areas.

According to the latest reports from this division, the construction of a Buddhist Vihara at a place now named “Wissara”, situated between Thaanthamalai and Kachchatkodi, is nearing completion. Batticaloa Viharathipathi is to take charge of the new Vihara shortly, the sources said.

In Koa'ralaippattu (Vaazhaich-cheanai) division, the popular tourist spot Paasik-kudaa, was earlier under the administration of Koa'raippattu (Vaazhaich-cheanai) DS office.

Colombo's Tourist Development Ministry took over the administration of Paasik-kudda. Now, all the revenue from Paasikkudaa goes to Colombo.