People of Jeyapuram in Killinochchi staged a protest yesterday (20). This protest has been staged in front of the Pooneryn Divisional Secretariat at around 10 AM. People in this protest demanded the authorities to give them the paddy lands as per the assurance given.
Despite it was stated in 1983 that one acre of land would be given to each family, these lands are now being occupied by the forestry division. Condemning this and demanding the authorities to give them these lands, this protest has been staged.
This protest marched from Vadiya Junction in Pooneryn reached to Pooneryn Divisional Secretariat where the memorandum has been handed over.
Following are the extract of what people told the Medias during this protest;
Around 48 persons were given in the lands in 1983. During that, it was stated that one acre land as paddy land would be given to each family. Many people went to India following the terrible situation. We had been expecting for so long that these lands would be given to those remained stayed in our homeland. But, it is yet to be given. Trees are now planted by the Forestry Division in these lands by claiming that these lands are belonging to them. We wrote letters to various sections requesting them to make these lands available to us. No solution has been met yet. In the meantime, if we are given these lands, it will somehow wipeout our poverty.
The Divisional Secretary who received the memorandum stated the following;
The people belonging to this particular area were given lands in 1983. The map for it is not here. We have demanded the presidential commission in this regard. We cannot do anything till the message from there is reached. However, we have been making continuous attempts to make these lands available to these people.
The protestors then go to the Department of Forestry Resources located at Pooneryn have handed over the memorandum in this regard to them also.
