Thenmaradchi farmers appeal to PM

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 August 2002, 20:52 GMT]
Farmers of Thenmaradchi in Jaffna district have sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister requesting him to take immediate steps to allow them to do rain-fed paddy cultivation in their fields as earlier promised by Minister Milinda Morogoda and Defence Secretary Austin Fernando when they visited the area some weeks back.

A memorandum to this effect was sent to the Prime Minister by the Thenmaradchi People's Welfare Association Friday through the Divisional Secretary.

"Since later part of the year 2000, about four thousand acres of paddy fields in the villages, at Maravanpolo, Thanankilappu and Ottuveli in Thenmaradchchi area have been left abandoned following military operation launched by the Sri Lanka Army. More than nine hundred families live on the income by paddy cultivation in these villages," said the memorandum.

"When Minister Milinda Morogoda and Defence Ministry Secretary Austin Fernando visited Thenmaradchchi recently they promised the displaced that paddy cultivation would be allowed for the forthcoming season in their lands. However the armed forces stationed in the area refuse permission for the cultivators to enter their fields to do preparatory work.

"Hence we appeal to you to take immediate steps to allow us to do cultivation in our paddy fields for our survival," said the memorandum.