Post War: Land Battle Begins
Many have been the accusations of land-grabbing in the east post war
By Michael Hardy
Two Tamil National Alliance MPs have accused the government of illegally resettling Sinhalese people on Tamil land in the north and east. They argue that these resettlements are part of a larger scheme to ‘Sinhala-ize’ areas formerly controlled by the LTTE.
“Many acres of land belonging to Tamils have been taken over by Sinhalese, especially in Trincomalee,” MP T.K. Premachandran said. “In Ampara, land belonging to Muslims have been taking over by Sinhalese. Resettlements are also being carried out on the west of A-9. The government is trying to change the demographic patterns in both the north and east.”
In a speech to parliament on October 23, MP R. Sampanthan condemned the “unlawful occupation of state lands” in the east and claimed the government was either turning a blind eye or actively assisting in the illegal occupation. He presented evidence that thousands of Tamils have been evicted from their homes and replaced by Sinhalese settlers, in what he called an organised attempt to suppress the Tamil and Muslim people.
“Communal chauvinism and venality seem to be the factors guiding the grabbing of valuable state land,” Sampanthan said in his speech.
Sampanthan pointed to illegal occupation of land on both sides of the Trincomalee-Horowapatana Road between the villages of Vepankulam and Mudaliyarkularm; on both sides of the newly-constructed Surwila-Polonnaruwa Road; in several areas around the Trincomalee-Habarana Road, up to Kithuluthu; and on beach-frontage land in the villages of Irakkakandy and Kurnburupiddy.
Although the Sinhalese have been settling in the north and east since Independence, the defeat of the LTTE has given new momentum to Sinhala nationalists who have tried for decades to encourage settlement in traditionally Tamil areas of the country.
“If the present situation continues, it would appear that in regard to state land, the law of the land does not apply to members of the majority community; that the only qualification you need to possess to take state land as you wish is that you are a member of the majority community,” Sampanthan said.
Sampanthan went on to cite specific examples. He alleged that 1,486 Tamil families have been prevented from returning to their homes in the Grama Sevakas’ Divisions of Sampur East, Sampur West, Konnutheevu, Navarathnapuram, Soodaikuda, Kadarkaraichenai and Sampurkali, because these areas have been declared a High Security Zone.
He also claimed that about 100 huts have been illegally built by Sinhalese on both sides of the Trincomalee Horowapatana Road, on land cleared with a bulldozer. According to him, this has been done with the full support of the officials in the Morawewa-Muthali Kulam DS Division. About 60 huts have been built by Sinhalese on the Surwila-Polonnaruwa Road. And Sampanthan said that in a town called Sumedangapura on the Trincomalee-Kandy Road a government minister has given land in a designated economic zone to 500 Sinhalese.
All of this has been carried out despite the many landless Tamils and Muslims living in the area, according to Sampanthan.
“If a Tamil person or a Muslim person occupied valuable state land in this way, would it be allowed?” Sampanthan said. “The state must take back possession of the land.”
Sampanthan said that 14 acres of state land in Irakkakandy were being fenced in by Sethunga Mudiyanselage Kithsiri Bandara, who has no title to the land and is not from the area.
“(Bandara) has acted with absolute impunity; he has taken the law into his own hands and come and occupied 14 acres of land from the main land up to the beach,” Sampanthan said. “He feels that he faces no danger. This is daylight robbery of state land.”
Discuss this article at www.thesundayleader.lk
This country belongs to Singhalese. We fought and won the war against Tamils and their goons in western countries. They can shut up or put up. Actually, they can join the rest of the refugees in the Indian ocean. Singhalese will chase away all the Tamils from our sacred motherland.
Really? You people have not learned the lessons after all these. Yugoslavia said so and made to break in to pieces. India is together now because they say agaist what you say.
Now our problem is in international domain and the world is watching. So can’t play the game you suggest anymore.
Kalag,
With the same mentality as of yours SWRD Bandaranayake started all these and look what a country he has left behind.
Look to Singapore which was behind us and because of racial harmony it is miles ahead of us.
You guys are helping India economically which is prospering at our expense. India is biggest benificiary due to our conflict. Tamils diasporas millions of dollars on grocery and other goods are going in to Indian businessmen instead of oue while our youth are getting beated by Police for demonstating for jobs. Don’t you agree that they can do better jobs in Software field if given chances.
Our womenfolks are langushing in the middle east.
Brain Drain, making the country in to hand of metallay diable people like you. How long you are to continue with your rubbish ideas?
What we need is a honest and farsight national leader who can achive racial harmoney to take the Tamil diaspora in to the national bracket and thereby making them to invest in Sri Lanka. Not the one who says I killed so many so I need your votes.
People like you are determined that more and more Pirabhaharans to come out. Ahh, Sorry mate we had had enough. You should have gone off with that guy.
You are one very uneducated individual.
Kalag,
That is a despicable thing to say more than 60%of Tamils live inthe south amongst the sinhalese many have intermarried The country belongs to all of us and we must live together in peace and dignity.It is people like you who should get out of the country I am a sinhalese served 20yrs in the Army and I feel for our Tamil brothers and sisters get rid of your Toxic Hatred.
Well said
Many tamils do live among sinhalese, but in fear and anxiety as daily a few are picked up by police on “suspicion of links with LTTE” which is only a ploy to extort money. Some even ‘disappear’.Tamil businessmen suffer extortion by gangs who threaten arrest on allegations of “LTTE links”.The government which is unable to prevent deaths in custody,assaults/murders/disappearances of journalists & political opponents and excesses by the army and police, is not bothered by the plight of tamils.Encroaching of tamils’ lands in the east and north commenced long ago.Tamils’ homes vacated in the “high security zones” (which are no longer required),have all been looted,with even whole doors and windows removed/robbed.Police do not entertain any complaints just as they do not, in the case of complaints by political opponents of the regime. This country belongs to all communities and the majority community should not suppress/prey on/neglect the welfare of/refuse equal rights of, the minorities.This is what caused the 30 year war.
Wow wie immer ein interessanter Beitrag. Wenn doch nur alle Blogs so qualtitativ hochwertig wären. Ich habe auch einen Blog über kleinere Simulationen, könntest Du mir dazu auch Feedback geben? Meine Simulation. Vielen Dank im Voraus! MFG