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