Illegal Seizure Of Lands In Dumbara

by Hafsa Sabry(Sunday Leader) Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Amongst many alleged illegal anti-environmental activities in the country the issue of illegal ‘land grabbing’ and ‘diamond mining’ that are carried out despite the issues has beeng brought to the notice of relevant authorities.
The Dumbara lands in the Ratnapura district is one of the water catchment areas which is continuously being exposed to illegal land acquisition and environmental damage for nearly 10 years causing chaos amongst residents.
“The Nendun Viharaya located in the Dumbara under the purview of the Kiri Ella local government body has allegedly placed measures to legalise public land as temple premises,” says Environmentalist and Director of Center for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS) Ravindra Kariyawasam.
The chief prelate of the temple has allegedly ‘grabbed’ the land to the extent of nearly 8,317 acres and 25 perches in Ketepola, Manana and Denabavakanda villages belonging to the Dumbara Divisional Secretariat (DDS), saying the land belongs to the temple.
The temple in question has allegedly used political influence on the Divisional Secretariat in the area to illegally ‘seize’ land, the sale of lands to their favourites, ‘diamond mining’ and ‘deforestation.’
“They also have forged licenses, documents and claim those lands belong to the temple,” alleged Kariyawasam.
Approximately 4000 families and a population of 16,000 live in Dumbara along the Kalu Ganga and its streams. ‘Diya Dola,’ ‘Dovo Dola’, ‘Korale Ela,’ and ‘Pasgang Ela’ have been declared as water catchment areas of the district.
Irreparable damage and alleged destruction is being posed to the environment and the water catchment areas of the district by the illegal activities of the priest and his supporters.
Meanwhile, the water catchment areas and rivers are being damaged and illegally mined for diamonds while trees are being cut down by the workers of the temple. The priest is also alleged of blocking developmental work in the village. “He even obstructs the construction of toilets for the general public but does not prevent illegal gem mining and deforestation in the village,” claims the environmentalist.
In 1994, the Commissioner General of Buddhist Affairs Somaratne Kariyawasam had allegedly helped in preparing the necessary documents to legalise the land to the temple. According to land regulations 1856, No. 10 and 1870 No. 4, the villages in question and the surrounding of the area were declared as lands belonging to the villagers and residents of the area by the government.
Therefore, the move by the temple to take over these lands is allegedly an illegal move.
The residents of the area claim that they have written to the former President and the Prime Minister regarding the illegal attempts of land acquisitions of Dumabra Lands by the temple but a response from relevant authorities is yet to be given with regards to the issue.
“90 percent of the villagers are Buddhist farmers who cultivate coconut, tea and rubber while they live in peace with other communities as well.
We have two Hindu temples and a mosque in the village and where can we go from our native place if our lands are given to the temple?” questioned the villagers.
They also allege the policemen in the area are preventing illegal gem mining.
The land ‘grabbing’ in Dumbara, gem mining, deforestation and several other threats to the environment are allegedly ignored by the law enforcement authorities.
Therefore, the residents of the area and the environmentalists request the government bodies and the relevant authorities to address the ongoing issue and strictly implement the law since, the environment is gradually being damaged while violating the directives of the Commissioner of lands.

Land grab
Alahakoon Dahanayaka Weerasekara, one of the lawyers who is working on the case of Nendun Viharaya issue speaking to The Sunday Leader said that the chief prelate of the temple is trying to grab the land from the residents claiming that the land belong to the temple.
However, the Commissioner for Lands had issued a letter claiming that the land belongs to the villages and not to the temple.
Meanwhile, the priest of the temple had filed a case before the Appeal Court against the letter issued by the Commissioner of Lands and the case is still pending.
He said that despite the committee formed by the government to solve the Dumbara land issue in 2013 with the temple priest and the Commissioner of lands decided that the land belongs to the people and not the temple, the chief priest is allegedly attempting to legalise the public lands to the temple with fake documents.
“Sixty percent of the population lack documents to prove the land belongs to them as they were used by their ancestors. The Grama Sewa of these four villages support the temple and the priest and allegedly obstruct the residents from receiving legal documents as directed by the priest and his political supporters. “The Grama Sewas do not do anything for the villagers and the residents are even prevented to bury corpses on their lands since the Grama Niladharis would not approve the burial grounds. Therefore, the villagers have to travel to the Kalutara District to cremate the corpses or bury them,”he added.

No comment
The GA of the Ayagama Divisional Secretariat Bandula Harischandra, when contacted by the Sunday leader for a comment said that he is at a meeting and will talk later.

Not authorised
When The Sunday leader contacted the Commissioner of the Buddhist Affairs Chandraprema Gamage about the alleged illegal activities of the temple and the priest, he said that he is not authorised to speak on this issue as there was a case pending in the high courts with regards to Dumbara Land and Nedun Viharaya hence no information can be revealed to the media at present.

Comments from the Thero
Raja Maha Vihara Urala Vajira Buddhi Hamaduruvo of Dumbara Raja Maha Vihara while speaking to The Sunday Leader said is accused of trying to declare the land as public land which can neither be owned by any organisations nor by any individuals.
However, the priest of Nendun Viharaya is accused of attempts to grab the land claiming they belong to the temple while forging fake documents.
He claimed that the head of the committee that was formed by the villagers to act against the illegal activities of Nendun Viharaya. He added that even the police and some of the government officials support the illegal activities in the area.
He added that priest and his supporters obstruct development in the village whilst causing unrest to the residents. They bribe the government officials and the Divisional Secretariats to act against the innocent people living here. They are helpless to act against them as they have influence on government officials with money and power.
“The police file cases against the residents and not against the violators of the law. Therefore, we request the government and the relevant officials to provide an acceptable solution for this issue.” the Thero said