Alleged land colonisation in Sri Lanka's east

Photo courtesy: Agron Dragaj

BBC Sinhala
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The government in Sri Lanka is accused of systematically colonising the east a regional politician.

R Thurairatnam, a member of the eastern provincial council (EPC) has written to the chief minister raising concerns of the move.

The central government, he says, is handing over nearly 20,000 acres in Batticaloa district exclusively among Sinhala nationals.

Lands of Ampara district to the north of Batticaloa and Polonnaruwa flanking its west have already been distributed, alleges Mr Thurairatnam.

"The lands belonging to the Mahaveli project, forestry department and tourist industry is being distributed in a manner biased to the Sinhala people," he told BBC Sinhala service.

Friday Forum

In a letter to Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, the councillor has urged the chief minister to take immediate action to stop the "colonisation."

"When Tamil people trying to get a land, they are bound by the provincial land commissioner's regulations. But the provincial council was neither informed nor sought permission for this distribution," he added.

Members of the civil defence force are among the beneficiaries of the scheme, according to the councillor.

BBC Sandeshaya could not get the response of either of the land ministers in the government or the EPC despite repeated attempts.

The Friday Forum, headed by former UN diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala, has raised serious concerns over the “ad hoc manner” the government is trying to deal with land ownership in the north and east.

Releasing a discussion paper the Forum says the recent circular issued by the land ministry underlines “the importance of ensuring that property claims and access to land and housing in communities are accommodated with equity and fairness.”

© BBC Sinhala