"Thennamaravadi IDP's lands being encroached"- Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 September 2004, 16:29 GMT]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan complained in a letter to the Sri Lanka Goverment's Peace Secretariat officials that they should take immediate steps to stop the encroachment of paddy lands belonging to displaced Tamil families located in Thennamaravadi village in Trincomalee district, sources said.

In a letter to Dr.Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Government Secretariat for Co-ordinating the Peace Process (COPP) and Mr.Tilak Ranaviraja, Secretary to the Interior Ministry, Mr. Sampanthan said, ''Some lawless elements after the Ceasefire Agreement are attempting to deprive lawful owners who are displaced from resuming possession of their lands and cultivating same in Thennamaravadi Tamil village.''

In one instance, a person called Ukkubanda Anura of Siripura junction in Padavi Siripura area has forcibly ploughed four acres of land at Thillaimadhu Velli and Nallathanneer Ootru Pulavu at Thennamaravadi, belonging to one Erambu Tharmalingam presently staying at Ponnagar refugee camp in Mulliayawallai.

In the second incident two acres of land belonging to the heirs of one Vinasithamby Kanagiah has been forcibly ploughed and cultivated by one Gune of 12th Colony said Mr.Sampanthan in his letter to Interior Ministry Secretary.

Mr. Vinasithamby Kanagiah and his wife Sethupillai were killed in 1984 attack on the village.

Around 175 Tamil families living in Thennamaravadi village were dislocated during the 1984 attack.

''I have to request you to use your good offices to ensure that the dislocated people who now wish to resume possession of their lands are allowed to do so, Mr.Sampanthan appealed to Dr.Dhanapala.

Mr.Sampanthan took up this matter with Mr.Tilak Ranaviraja when he met the latter in Colombo on September 23. Mr. Ranaviraja agreed to take up this matter with relevant authorities in Anuradhapura district.

Mr.Sampanthan further stated in his letter that the owners until their dislocation in 1984 regularly cultivated these lands. These families are now planning to return to Thennamaravadi village. Forcible ploughing and cultivation on these lands has commenced only after the ceasefire agreement came into operation.

''These actions could result in a serious breach of peace and also deter the lawful owners from returning to their lands and resuming life. This highhanded action must be stopped, and the lawful owners should be allowed to take possession of their lands. I have to request that immediate action be taken to remove the tresspassers,'' said Mr.Sampanthan.