SLN occupies Thampalakamam grazing land

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 December 2003, 19:16 GMT]
The Trincomalee district Parliamentarian, Mr.Sampanthan, has made representations to Sri Lanka’s President, Prime Minister and Defence Ministry officials to take urgent action to release Attavaniakulam pastureland in Thampalakamam for cattle grazing. Cattle breeders in Thampalakamam say the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) High command has barred cattle grazing in the village, saying it comes under their High Security Zone (HSZ). Attavanaikulam is situated about 8 k.m. from Kalmuttian Kulam SLN camp.

Thampalakamam cattle breeders' association President Mr.Wijeratnam

Cattle breeders in the village complained to the district parliamentarians, Messrs. R.Sampanthan and K.Thurairetnasingham, that they have been finding it very difficult to feed about six thousand heads of cattle in the village.

The cattle are destroying the paddy fields in the village as they are not allowed to graze in the Attavanaikulam pasture land, the cattle breeders told the parliamentarians who visited the village, Sunday.

Parliamentarians Sampanthan and Thurairatnasingham with Thampalakamam cattle breeders' representatives at the site of the pasture land at Attavanaikulam

"We are in a dilemma to find ways to save the paddy crops from our cattle and also to feed them," Mr.P.Wijeratnam, the president of the Thampalakamam cattle breeders' association told the parliamentarians.

The Parliamentarians held discussion with officials of the Thampalakamam Cattle Breeders' Association at the Puthukuddiruppu Maha Vidyalayam, Sunday afternoon.

Cattle breeders' association representatives say their problem should be resolved urgently as the coming months would be crucial for them to keep their animals in the village when paddy crops reach two months old.

Later parliamentarians visited the pastureland site accompanied by representatives of cattle breeders' association.

Parliamentarian Mr.Sampanthan speaking at the discussion with Thampalakamam cattle breeders' representatives at Puthukuddirupu school