Attempts are being made to evict Tamils and settle up to 180 Sinhala families in lands belonging to Tamil families. The lands in question come under the jurisdiction of the Karaithuraipatru (Maritimepattu), Mullaitivu Divisional Secretariat.
The current attempt is being conducted under the guidance of Director General (Community Affairs) in the President’s Office Keerthi Tennakoon and implemented by the Mahaweli Authority. Officials from the Mahaweli Authority, Maritimepattu Divisional Secretariat, Mullaitivu District Secretariat attempted to survey the lands on Monday 3rd April.
Similarly, agricultural fields that have access to irrigation infrastructure and rain-fed paddy fields that belong to Tamil families in villages such as Kokkilai, Kokku Thoduvai and Karunatukerny, have been distributed among Sinhala farmers.
Official deeds and ownership for the lands in question were officially given to the Tamil families living in these lands between the years of 1973 and 1979. While some of the families used the lands for agricultural purposes, many still live in these lands, despite others being forcibly displaced in 1984 following the Manalaru massacre, conducted by the Sri Lankan military. The families living in these lands and former member of the Northern Provincial Council T. Ravikaran protested the surveying of the lands.
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