Batticaloa farmers want SLA to vacate occupied Agrarian Service Centers

[TamilNet, Friday, 31 August 2007, 07:12 GMT]
During a high-level District Development Council meeting Saturday, chaired by Amir Ali, MP, Minister of Disaster Management, the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) declined to remove the army camps currently set up in the Agrarian Service Centers in Karadiyanaa'ru, Ma'ndapaththadi and Vaakarai, citing security reasons. The representatives of the Agrarian Societies had asked the SLA to relocate the camps saying that more than 11,000 farmers are affected by the camps.

The farmer representatives explained that presently the Karadiyanaa'ru Agrarian Service center functions in Vanthaa'rumoolai, 16 km away from the original place. In Karadiyanaa'ru, region paddy grows in 3,657 hectares during the major season and in 4,000 hectares during the sub season. Besides, small crops grow in 300 hectares. Due to the shifting of the Agrarian Service Center to Vanthaa'rumoolai, more than 3,000 farmers are affected.

Ma'ndapaththadi Agrarian Service Center functions in Batticaloa town, 10 km away from the original place. In Ma'ndapaththadi region, paddy grows in 9,719 hectares during the major season and in 4,600 hectares in sub season. Furthermore, small crops grow in 780 hectares. Because of the shifting of the Agrarian Service Center to Batticaloa town, more than 6,000 farmers are affected.

Vaakarai Agrarian Service Center functions in some other places in Vaakarai where paddy grows in 3,943 hectares during the major season and in 2'00 hectares in sub season. More than 2,000 farmers are affected in this region.

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