Protesters gathered in Mannar from smaller villages, on Monday to condemn attempts of “outside forces” to appropriate farm land in Kovilmottai.
Locals from the Periya Pandivirichchan and Sinnapandivirichchan marched from Mannar Bazaar to the District Secretariat’s office, where they met with District Secretary, Stanley De Mel. The Secretary was read a letter that stressed that the “groups of farmers” that had been claiming they needed land in Kovilmottai held no land rights.
Protesters carried banners with statements accusing these “outside forces” of inciting conflict among the Hindu and Christian communities in order to appropriate the land. Kovilmottai resides in Madu district along with the Shrine of Our Lady of Madu, a church that has been considered as a symbol of unity between different religious groups in the North East.
Following the protest, the letter was handed over to the office of the Governor of the Northern Province.
