Mattala Airport Expressway Disturbs The Way Of Life

By Nirmala Kannangara in Hambantota
Pictures by Asoka Fernando

Who benefits, from the development work of the Mahinda Chintanaya?” the villagers in Pahala Andara Wewa from the Hambantota District, and Kandhasurindugama, from Monaragala District, ask.
Sadly enough the people; who brought the Rajapaksas to power, have not benefitted, rather, the nearest and dearest of the First Family are enjoying all the fruits of State beneficence.
The construction of the Mattala Airport Expressway has destroyed many of their homes and livelihoods. In order to make this possible, residents had to sacrifice their lands which included houses and paddy-fields and have received nothing in return, though six months have passed since the launch of the Expressway. Their only hope was Ms. Ganesha Amarasinghe, Divisional Secretary (DS) of Hambantota, who had promised to compensate them. However, she has now been transferred and a new DS has been appointed. The new DS, who is a government ally, has stated that no compensation will be paid as the villagers had ‘donated’ the land for a worthy cause.
It is ironic that these villagers are from the very electorates which elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Chief Minister for the Uva Province, Shashendra Rajapaksa, to the parliament. Their attempts, to meet the President and the Chief Minster had unfortunately failed and when Namal Rajapaksa was confronted with the issue, they were referred to Chaminda Gamage, his Private Secretary. This referral has not resulted in any relief for the beleaguered villagers.
“All our attempts to obtain compensation for our lost livelihoods or our houses through the Grama Sevaka, Road Development Board (RDA), Agriculture Development Board and the Divisional Secretary have fallen on deaf ears. Almost one season has gone, depriving us from our source of income which is paddy farming. How can we survive without an income?” queried the villagers.
Since of late, herds of wild elephants have begun to attack the villagers and three persons have died as a result of these rampages.
The Sunday Leader visited Pahala Andara Wewa and Kandasurindugama where construction on the Mattala airport road is underway. Half of the road construction is now completed and according to the villagers it has to be finished before December, 2013.
Piyasena alias Kiri Mahattaya who has taken leadership on behalf of all those who have lost their paddy fields said that the money they had spent on travelling to meet government officials, would have helped them start a new livelihood.
By letter dated November 28, 2011 the Divisional Secretary Hambantota states:
“I do hereby give notice to the general public according to the instruction given to me by the Ministry of Land and Land Development that the land describe below is required for a public purpose under sub section (1) of Section 2 of the Land Acquisition (amendment) Act No: 28 of 1964”
Kiri Mahattaya of Pahala Andara Wewa has lost 3 ¾ acres of paddy land of his original four acres. He told The Sunday Leader that the main source of income for the villagers had been through the production of rice. They do not have any other alternative, than to beg on the streets, so that they can make ends meet. Any attempt of revolting against this has been halted by the government allies.
J. B. A. Karunawathie claimed that she has to find some manual labour in the area to keep the hearth burning. According to her she has lost 1 ½ acres out of her 2 acres of paddy land.

G.G. Sirisena claims that he does not know as to how he is going to feed his children without an income. According to him, he cannot do any other cultivation on the remaining land as the road has blocked all the waterways.
“The waterways are on the other side of the road and we do not have any access to them. We took water from these waterways for cultivation purposes earlier but now we have been deprived of that as well. Although Chairman Pradeshiya Sabha Gamini Samararatne tried his best to help us, he too is now helpless. We were asked to meet him on Wednesday January 25, to see what he could do on our behalf,” added Sirisena.
R. K. Chandraseeli can be considered among the poorest of the poor. She has lost her sole income source. With four children including a disabled child she questions as to why the government oppressed the very villagers who elected them to power. She has lost more than 1 ¾ acres from two acres of paddy land. Her husband is a fisherman and claims that their daily income is not more than Rs. 250 which is not enough for them to provide even one square meal for their four small children.
Jeewarani Galappaththi and G. A. Chandrasena too are helpless victims who have found it difficult to pay loans they have obtained to build their respective houses.
Gunapala in Kandasurindugama claimed that they have been asked to vacate their houses by the Gam Udawa Road within the next three months as the land belongs to the Beralihela forest reserve. He further questions, as to why the government wants to construct a 200 feet wide road through Kanadasurindugama, if the adjoining small strip of land cannot be allocated to them as it would harm the wild life in the jungle.
“Although the government is now trying to get the credit for this road it was the plan of the late President Premadasa. They claim that this area has been developed and all facilities have been provided, we do not enjoy any of them. We have to go far away to bring drinking water. My daughter studied up to grade five in the Junior School in Beralihela Fifth Colony but never had an English teacher. We had to give her private tuition. She joined the school in Beralihela Sixth Colony for grade six this year and all the children have been asked to bring Rs. 600 each for the desk and chair, another Rs. 250 to paint them and yet another Rs. 250 to buy curtains for the classroom. They have not received most of the text books and uniform material as yet,” says Kamala. According to her, the free mid-day meal given to the children too has been suspended.
Meanwhile a road construction labourer on the basis of anonymity told The Sunday Leader as to how Minister Jagath Pushpakumara is trying to build hotels in Detagamuwa Forest Reserve. However, the Departments of Wild Life and Forestry have objected this project proposal. But it is very clear, that the entire forest in Detagamuwa would be cleared to build hotels to facilitate anyone who uses the expressway.