Sinhala farmers settled on state land in Batticaloa
District Secretary PSM Charles and Agriculture Minister of the Eastern Provincial Council K.Thurairajasingham made the discovery during their visit to the border of Mathavanai and Mayilathamadhu, just within the borders of the Batticaloa district.
In Senkalady and Kiran Divisional Secretariats, state lands have also been acquired illegally and at least 300 families are living in temporary shelters. The construction of a Buddhist Vihara is also under way in the middle of the resettlements.
The Chief Monk of the Vihara told government officials that they had been living in these areas since 1967 and following the resumption of war in 2006, they displaced to other Sinahala areas. They claimed they resettle in their own lands three years ago and most of the families are engage in farming for survival in paddy fields located adjacent to the resettlements.


