A controversial new Sinhala colonisation program in the Tamil North-East of the island will also see new villages being constructed in the Sinhala south and named after former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Housing and Construction Sajith Premadasa said the ‘Village Reawakening’ program was to construct a new village in Hambantatota after Mr Rajapaksa, who is accused of overseeing and directing mass atrocities during the final stages of the armed conflict on the island.
“We are hoping to build villages to be named after all former presidents and rulers of Sri Lanka,” added Mr Premadasa, himself the son of a former president R Premadasa who initiated the scheme.
Last week the minister opened a new village in the Tamil North-East as part of the program.
See our earlier posts:
Sri Lanka relaunches controversial Sinhala settlement scheme in North-East (11 Apr 2016)
Army constructs community hall for Sinhala military village in North-East (28 Oct 2015)
Mullaitivu villagers protest against Sinhala colonisation (19 Jan 2016)
Sri Lankan president pays tribute to UNP minister (25 Oct 2015)
Rajapaksa hands over 3000 land deeds to Mahaweli farmers (22 Apr 2013)