Sri Lanka: Villagers protest against 'land grab'

BBC Sinhala
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A leading monk from eastern Sri Lanka has issued a three day ultimatum to police to vacate an occupied village in the Ampara district.

Rev. Panama Chandarathana, the Chief Sanganayaka thero of Wellassa Digamadulla region along with villagers from Ragamwela agreed to call off a protest following a pledge by senior police officers.

Hundreds of Ragamwela villagers demonstrated at the Panama junction calling the police whom they accuse of occupying their ancestral land to leave.

Wasantha Chandrapala who visited the scene reported that protesters who burnt tyres and logs sat down to block the Pothuwil Okanda highway for a over an hour.

Security of the area was tightened by calling armed riot Police squads and the special task force, he added.

Senior Deputy Inspector General for East Edison Gunathilaka who met the protesters promised to 'find a solution'.

An armed group has destroyed several houses and attacked villagers in Ragamwela, Panama, Potuvil on the night of 17th July.

Dozens of villagers visited the Ampara Human Rights commission on monday to complaint against police occupying their land.

Panama is in the vicinity of the Yala wildlife sanctuary and the Arugambay surfing resort.

Tourism industry in the area that has been badly affected during the decades long conflict, has seen a revival in recent months.

© BBC Sinhala