Pursue all legal avenues to confront encroachment of heritage sites: Former Land Commissioner

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 09 June 2020, 21:17 GMT]
Former Land Commissioner of Eastern Province Kathirgamathamby Kurunathan has urged Tamil politicians to confront illegal encroachments that violate the laws of SL State itself. The Divisional Secretaries are also duty-bound to take action against erecting Buddha statues and temples in Tamil and Muslim religious sites and in localities where no Buddhists reside. He was citing his own experience of legally thwarting the attempt by an intruding Sinhala-Buddhist monk. The latter had put up a Buddhist temple at Kaayang-kea'ni, where no Buddhists reside. The former Land Commissioner urged Tamil politicians and activists to pursue all legal avenues available to confront the encroachments.



Mr Kurunathan blamed Tamil politicians for not guiding the people properly to act against the encroachments.

He urged the people to elect politicians who have a command in interpreting the law and the ability to resist the illegal land grab and violations of procedures.

The encroaching monks and Sinhala officials had even tried to deceive some Tamil women at Kaayangkea'ni to support their move to counter the opposition.

However, Tamil activists and politicians who were aware of the ground realities and the possibilities within the legal framework foiled those attempts, he said.

To a question on why Muslim politicians remain silent without opposing the illegal encroachments, Mr Kurunathan said certain politicians, such as Ampaa'rai-based ALM Athaullah, who collaborate with the ruling regime in Colombo, were not openly resisting the encroachment in Ampaa'rai.

However, other Muslim politicians have challenged the recent discriminatory decisions by the SL State. An example was the decision to cremate of those perished due to COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

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