Central land authority to colonize Vaanaa’ru Muslim village with Sinhalese

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 26 May 2010, 16:26 GMT]
The entire Muslim community of Vaanaa’ru new settlement has been opposing the move to bring their village under the administration of the Kantha’laay Divisional Secretary Division in Trincomalee district. Kantha’laay DS division is one of the five DS divisions where ninety-five percent of the population is from majority Sinhalese community. Vaanaa’ru village is now administered by Ki’n’niyaa Divisional Secretary. Ki’n’niyaa DS division is predominated by Muslim community.

Of the eleven DS divisions in the district, Sinhalese predominated DS divisions are Seruvila, Kanthalaai Gomarankadawela, Morawewa and Padavi Siripura. Two thirds of the state land in the Trincomalee district come under these five DS divisions.

Vaanaa’ru Muslim villagers say that the proposed annexation of their village within the administration of the Kanthalaay DS limit is another attempt to colonize their area with majority Sinhalese.

Trincomalee district Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) parliamentarian Mr M. S. Thowfeek has lodged a protest against this move with the Land Minister John Seneviratne.