Buddhist monk, Sinhala squad appropriate lands along Batticaloa-Ampaa'rai border

[TamilNet, Friday, 07 February 2014, 21:35 GMT]
Under the cover of ‘preventing’ wild elephants from entering the residential areas of the border villages situated between Batticaloa and Ampaa'rai district, a group of Sinhalese are engaged in putting up a new fence with the hidden agenda of appropriating the lands of Eezham Tamils in Kachchatkodi Suvami-malai and Kevu'liya-madu villages of Paddippazhai division of Batticaloa district. A Sinhala name, Bambara-kanda, has been introduced to the Suvaami-malai hillock, according to the Tamil villagers who have an ancient Saiva temple there.

A Sinhala squad from Ampaa'rai, putting up the new fence, is also trying to annex the ancient hillock Suvami-malai with Ampaa'rai district, the sources further said.

Ven. Ambitiya Sumanaratna Thera, the chief incumbent Buddhist monk from Batticaloa Mangalarama Vihara, has been visiting the village asking for land permits from the Tamil villagers and guiding the Sinhala squad in appropriating the lands of Tamils.

The squad has refused to listen to the village official (GS), the sources further said.

The previous fence put up by the officials from Batticaloa district is located 3 km away from Kachchatkodi village, which comes under the Batticaloa district.

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