Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Charles Nirmalanathan has alleged that up to 250 acres of land in the Veerapuram area that were supposed to be handed over to Tamil families have been illegally occupied by Sinhala settlers.
In 1994, Tamil families were settled on 400 acres of land that was allocated in the Cheddikulam Divisional Secretariat. Each family was promised 1 acre of land for their livelihood development. However, these lands have not yet been distributed to the families.
Instead, over 75% of the land is being occupied by Sinhala families from the Vavuniya South Divisional Secretariat. Nirmalanathan maintained that when he had tried to intervene in the matter, the District Secretariat assured him that he would be able to release the lands, only if the Buddhist monk in the area approves the decision.
Nirmalanthan stressed that over 250 acres of land has been usurped by Sinhala settlers and that this land must be immediately be released to the Tamil families, as it was decided in policy in 1994.
