GoSL must pay compensation to Batticaloa IDPs- MP

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 April 2007, 04:24 GMT]
One third of the Batticaloa Tamil population has been made refugees and, as a result, the educational, social and economical resources and growth of the Tamil people have suffered grave setback, P. Ariyaneththiran, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Member of Parliament for Batticaloa district said in a press communiqué Thursday. He urged the Sri Lanka Government authorities to take steps to pay compensation to those who suffered economic loss due to displacement.

The full text of the communiqué follows:

The total population of Batticaloa is 579 469. Out of them, Tamils are 426,896; Muslims are 151,487 and Sinhalese are 1,162.

100,045 people from Paduvankarai region and 21,000 people from Vaharai area are presently live in IDP camps. They have lost their total income as they are unable to continue their occupations like paddy cultivation, small crops, fishing, cattle breeding, diary production, pottery, etc.

In the last season of Paddy cultivation, 63,215 acres were cultivated and a harvest of 94,394 metric ton paddy expected. However, due to the vulnerable situation prevailing in the area, more than 10,000 farmers were denied access to harvest their crops.

Last year, 70,000 metric ton paddy was harvested in the prime season and 50,882 metric ton was harvested in the secondary season in Batticaloa. Due to the abnormal situation, 120,882 metric ton paddy cultivation was lost in three seasons, 63,215 acre paddy cultivation in prime season, 31,480 acre in secondary season and 1,200 acre in late season.

The government should come forward to pay compensation for the affected farmers for their losses.

Paduvankarai region, cattle farmers produced 21,000 liters milk every day. Out of the amount, 18,000 liters was sent to the neighboring Polannaruwa district to produce diary products. The rest of the milk was turned to curd and consumed by the locals.

Due to the shelling towards Paduvankarai region by the Sri Lanka Army in the recent past, nearly 8,000 cattle were killed and more than 20 continue die everyday. The present market value of a cattle is SL rupees 50,000.00.

The small crops like maize, black gram, green gram, gingerly, etc and vegetables like eggplant, ladies finger, chilly, snake guard, etc, cultivated in 500 acres were also destroyed.

More than 5,000 fresh water fishermen who fish in the inland tanks for their livelihood, too have lost their income.

Furthermore, many small industries like production of bricks, pottery, and stones were also affected.

In the meantime, a number of schools and temples too were affected and the valuable articles kept there were looted. The houses of the people also were broken and the valuable things stolen.

Considering the above loss of property, the government should pay due compensation for the affected people.

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