The People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL) sent another letter to President Maithripala Sirisena reminding the President of his promise to release all occupied lands in the North and East provinces for civilians.
In the new letter, the organization specifically referred to the village of Keppapulavu, Mullaitivu, where acres of lands remain occupied by the Army. Some parts of the village, however, were released in December 2017.
The organization said, “This includes, residential lands located in close proximity to their livelihood of fishing in the nearby lagoon, agricultural lands, and a village school, church, Hindu temple and cemetery. The villagers have been engaged in a day and night continuous peaceful protest outside the entrance to the Army camp, for more than 22 months – demanding the release of their lands.”
“As the Tamil community dawns the new year with Thai Pongal celebrations today, we know that many displaced in the North and East, are yet not able to celebrate in their homes. So, following up from our letter to the President (cc. Prime Minister and leaders of all main political parties), on the 27th of December, 2018, we reiterated our call once more to release all occupied lands in the North and East, as per his promise in October last year,” it also added.
The full letter written to the President is as follows:
15th January, 2019
Dear President,
On the 4th of October 2018, the Presidential Media Division reported that “President Maithripala Sirisena instructed the authorities to complete the process of releasing the lands in the North and East Provinces to their original owners, before the 31st of December, after resolving all the issues,” at a meeting with the Presidential Task Force to monitor development projects conducted in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
Displaced persons from the north and east, and other concerned persons and organizations, wrote a letter to you on 27th December 2018, appealing to you to honour your promise.
But, to date, there was has been no response to our letter, and large tracts of lands remain inaccessible to their residents, who remain displaced, many for over a decade.
Therefore, we are once again writing to you to keep your promise to complete the process of releasing lands in the North and East, – and in this case, we are referring specifically to the village of Keppapulavu in the Mullaitivu district. In December 2017, some parts of the village was released, but acres of lands remain occupied by the Army. This includes, residential lands located in close proximity to their livelihood of fishing in the nearby lagoon, agricultural lands, and a village school, church, Hindu temple and cemetery.
The villages have been engaged in a day and night continuous peaceful protest outside the entrance to the Army camp, for more than 22 months – demanding the release of their lands. They have also been holding multiple discussions with officials and politicians.
In the past, a village leader had threatened to engage in a fast unto death till their lands were released. We are concerned that they may resort to drastic action, if the promise you made, is not kept, and all lands not released.
Prior to such an eventuality, we again demand that you honor your promise and release all remaining lands still occupied and not accessible to these residents.
Yours sincerely,
The People’s Alliance for Right to Land (PARL)
Ajith / January 15, 2019
In Srilankan politics, it is very difficult to understand what is real and what is fake. Similarly, what is true and what is false or who is real and who is fake. How do we assess these things? Unfortunately most of us go to coma level when it comes to assessment.
/
K.Anaga / January 15, 2019
Politics is a game to be played with fools and all politicians are aware of it.
/
Naman / January 16, 2019
Most of the Public are worried only about how to bring the daily meals on their family table and they haven’t got the time to comprehend of the games our corrupt Politicians. While these Politicians and their families and friends enjoy from the money stolen from the Central Bank of SL.
/
Bingo / January 15, 2019
I’m sure that this letter would end up in that spineless racist’s dustbin without being opened, whether it’s written in English, tamil or sinhala.
/
justice / January 16, 2019
The armed forces are all powerful and no president or governor can go against them.
This is the only country where armed forces take over private lands, homes and livelihoods of citizens.
In reality, Sri Lanka has an army regime which allows corrupt civilians in the mantle of politicians to praise them and rake in ill-gotten wealth.
All the guys in parliament squabble among themselves, watched with amusement by the army – who get pay, food and duty free liquor, shelter and dress – even free sex.
.
No president/PM/minister will state the truth about the armed forces who are praised as heros who saved the nation – even now.
The peacetime army gets the largest share of every annual budget- including for ‘capital expenditure’.
Journalists and the media dare not tell the truth of where the funds go.
Food, dress, perks etc. are by tenders which are chosen by the army itself.
Many officers have built their retirement homes in the south.
There is no auditing of expenditure by the army – none will dare.
PARL – knows but dares not say – all know why.
/
Siva Sankaran Sharma / January 16, 2019
This man who came to power on the back of Tamil speaking minority votes, is now very intent in Sinhalising the Tamil North and East , trying to cease various religious sites both Christian and Hindu for Sinhalisation , especially in the Vavuniya Mullaitheevu and Trincomallee and parts of Mannar district. Sinhalese government officials appointed by his , instead of doing the work that they were appointed to do , to serve the local Tamil population without bias, are busy conniving with the occupying racist Sinhalese armed forces , police and the anti Tamil archaeological department, that is well known in the north and east for planting evidences and concocting history and conniving with Sinhalese extremist elements and Buddhist monks to Sinhalise the Tamil north and east. Recently on the direction of a Sinhalese government official , officials from the archaeological department under the protection of the armed forces and STF were conducting surveys at the ancient sacred Saivite site called Veduku Nari Malai , which has ancient Tamil Brahmi inscriptions. This is against what the court ordered. Previously many attempts to install Buddha statues. at this ancient prehistoric Hindu site was thwarted. Now they are arriving here against the court orders with the protection of the Sinhalese armed forces. Yesterday extremist Sinhalese led by a Buddhist monk were threatening , Tamil Hindu devotees, at a another Hindu temple in Mullaitivu ,where they want to install a Budda statue. Attempts are being made to Sinhalise the ancient 500 year old Tamil Catholic historic temple in Madhu and various Hindu temple , including the ancient historic Konnweswaram temple. Ancient Hindu temple on hilltops are specially earmarked by the armed forces , Sinhalese extremist , government officials, and armed forces . Now we have a governor in the east who has openly waged war against the real owners of the east, the eastern Tamils and has admitted to destroying Hindu temples. All this planned to destroy the Tamils by this ungrateful racist village buffoon.
/