People’s Forum for Land Rights

we are organizing a People’s Forum for Land Rights on 11th of February 2016. On 11th of February the cabinet decision of releasing Paanama land back to the community completes one year, but the people are yet to get their land back. While there are some progresses in other cases of acquired land (Sampur, Valikamam, etc) large number of people are still remain displaced and new threats of displacements are also emerging. This forum will bring communities of Paanama, Sampur, Kalpitiya, Mullikulam, Valikamam North, Irudeniyaya, Monaragala and people who will be affected by Port City project to force the Government in implementing its promises of giving the land back to their owners. During the Forum communities will reveal their current situation. PARL will also hand over its proposals for constitution in ensuring people’s right to their land to the constitutional reforms committee. The Assembly will follow with a protest march. On 11th morning the Organization for the Protection of Paanama patthuwa (community organization in Paanama) will lodge a complaint to the Human Right Commission about the delay in implementing the cabinet decision. Below are some more details of the event Theme: OUR LAND IS OUR LIFE – Delivering promises is a responsibility of good governance – Give us our land back People’s Forum for Land Rights Date and Time: 11th February 2016 from 10.30 to 12.30 (Forum) and rally will start at 02.00 pm Venue: Ceylon Mercantile Industrial & General Workers Union (CMU) Auditorium – No 3, 22nd Lane, Colombo 03 Objectives: 1. Reveal the current situation of land grabbing cases 2. Present the proposals for the constitution reforms 3. Handing over policy recommendations for the policy makers and authorities Participation: more than 500 people from Sampur, Kalpitiya, Paanama, Mullikulam, Valikamam North, Port City, Irudeniyaya, Monaragala, Plantation land, civil society representatives, foreign delegates and embassies Invitees: Constitution Council, Resettlement Authority, Resettlement Ministry / Minister, Land Ministry, Minister of National Dialogue, MPs (Jayampathi Wicramarathne, Buddika Pathirana, Eran Wickramarathne etc), JVP, TNA, Presidential Task Force on Reconciliation, Plantation Ministry

Nelaveli boat operators afftect by the southern tourism boat operators

A worksahop was conducted on 19th Jan 2016 at Valaiuttru Rural Development Society hall in Trincomalee in the east coast of Sri Lanka.fisher folks and boat operators (Transport tourists to Pigeon Island from Nilaveli). The Nilaveli boat tour operators say that they are engaging in boat tour in six months in a year.meanwhile the southern boat tour operators also come and engaging in the boat tour an it is really effect the villagers income. at the same time the southern boat tour operators are destroying the corals in the pigeon Island and tourist are working on the corals with shoes . it is really harmful for the sustainable tourism. At the same time fisher falks told that they are not allowed to cross the beach areas where some hotels are located. hoteliers dislikes the presence of the fisher folks beach side in front of the hotel. so they is no co existence between the locals and hoteliers.

Panama People met Minister Daya Gamage

A team of Panama people met Daya Gamage Minister of Primary Industry on 11th January 2016 and discussed about their issue. MR.Daya Gamage said that Ragamvila and Sasthrawela Land will be handed over to people but he did not mention when will be handed over. Meanwhile there are some investors are seeking lands in Panama to invest on Tourism. people told as a first phase 36 families will have to receive their land in Ragamvila. 75 families from Sasthrawela will recieve in the second phase. but Now the people of Panama say they heard a news from a government institute officer that the government is planning to provide half acre land for 75 families who were in Sasthrawela and the Land also not in the Sea side. sea side will be taken for the tourism investment. Therefore Panama people have lost their faith on good governance government and people will take action soon to get their own land through people's power.