Sinhala military occupation deprives Tamil farmers accessing livelihood services in Paduvaankarai

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 September 2019, 22:49 GMT]
The officers of the occupying SL Army’s 232 Brigade Headquarters, stationed at Tharavai near Kudumpi-malai (Thoppik-kal, Baron’s Cap) in the interior Batticaloa, are refusing to vacate from the irrigation and agrarian offices. Around 1,500 farmers who are organised in 25 organisations in Koa'ra'laip-pattu South (Kiraan) DS Division are deprived of benefiting from the services of the public office due to the continued militarisation by the Sinhala army, the representatives of the farmer's associations said. The office buildings are used as the residential offices of the commanding officers of the SL Army. The offices are also used as resorts for the Sinhala visitors from the South.

The local farmers have to travel 15 km away to access the services. The main livelihood of Tamils in Kudumpi-malai, Miyaan-ku'lam, Tharavai, Chinna-Miyaan-ku'lam, Pearillaa-ve'li and Koozhaavadi is agriculture.



The Tamil farmers are unable to access a section of their agricultural lands, which have been either militarised or claimed by the SL Departments and authorities of the occupying unitary state of genocidal Sri Lanka.

The SLA is also occupying the grounds of the Tharavai Maaveerar Thuyilum Illam, which is the largest Tamil Eelam Heroes Cemetery in the district. The SLA has razed the Thuyilum illam to the ground and has made the entire area a military zone. More than 675 fallen Tamil fighters lay buried at Tharavai Heroes Cemetery.

The occupying Sinhala military had chased away the residents of four villages in Kudumpi-malai GS division during the times of war in 2007.

Kudumpi-malai, known as Thoppik-kal and Baron’s Cap in the interior of Batticaloa district, is located 54 km north of Batticaloa city and 15 km east of Vaazhaich-cheanai. The villages come under the administrative division of Ko'ra'laip-pattu South (Kiraan).

The Tamil villages, bordering with the Polonnaruwa district, which belongs to the North Central Province, are also facing the danger of Sinhalicisation and colonisation.

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