Panama ,Ulpassa and egodayaya land grab in east in Sri Lanka

Air force and navy carders have been catch 1220 acres including with forest patchas Ulpassa and Egodayaya in panma. On 17-07-2010, an armed group with their faces covered in dark cloth had come in the middle of the night and attacked a group of villagers and had destroyed some temporary houses by setting them on fire. Following that, the Police and the Special Task Force together have not allowed any one to enter into the aforesaid village and have secured the land as a security zone, not allowing anyone to access them.

In this land 835 forest cover protected under department of forest. We can see their palu ,weera,karuwala trees. Rich bio diversity could see in this land. The forests are protected under 2009 flora and fauna act amendment.

Uthpathan madiya (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis), weal madiya (Fejervaraya limnocharis), and high poisons reptile we coud see in this area Telkarawala (Bungarus caeruleus) and Depath kaluwa (Calliophis melanurus sinhaleyas).

In the same time this land we can show as elephant’s corridor .it has created kudumbigala sanctuary to kumana trough this land and forest area. If carders clear this land unless it will create elephant and human conflict further in panma area.

The other issues are in this land grabbing 3 temples are being destroyed by navy and air force. First one is ulpassa samudra naga viharaya. It was build king of mahanaga in ancient sri lanka. We can see in their still ancient pounds, stupa and shila lekana.

When the navy and air force carders are vanishing this ulpassa and Egodayaya forest area, the Archeological sites also vanish. The navy cadres not allow to going there now. Wheragala weherakema Archeological site also has been faced for this problem and same time Ragamwela sri waluka ramaya has being cache by Air force.

The villages were first settled of Panama Shasthrawela took place in the decade of 1960 and however, with the increased terrorist activities in the decade of 1990, the Special Task Force which obtained a land allotment of 5 acres from Shasthrawela village stating that it is required to establish a Special Task Force camp near Shasthrawela village, later mentioned that it is necessary to transform the aforesaid camp into a training camp which requires over 50 acres and the Divisional Secretary stated that the village will have to be removed from that location and stating that the land necessary for the people of the aforesaid village will be given from the west side of the Panama-Pothuvil road, the village was removed from that location and those villagers have settled down near their relatives in Panama village. Even though surveying activities were carried out the people have not received land until now. The documents and permits to prove land ownership are attached herewith.
02. Second land robbery – Ragamwela village
03. Third land robbery – Robbing land in Ulpassa and Egodayaya
First it was said that a “Ranaviru” village will be established on those lands and after some time had lapsed, it was stated that a Navy stationing camp is to be built but later on we realized that a hotel complex is to be built there. This is the land where villagers of Panama carried out their livelihoods by engaging in cultivation. Some have permits and documents pertaining to that land. They face hardships as a result of the loss of the aforesaid land.
04. Fourth robbery – Building a bridge across Panama lagoon connecting the hotel and Panama and landing seaplanes on the lagoon. About 450 families earn their living through this lagoon. We had to take part in protests to put a stop to this process. At the moment this process is at a halt.
Additionally, the recommendations by the Human Rights Commission are also included.
Regarding Ragamwila Village

The above mentioned village was established through chena cultivation by our parents who were settled in Panama carrying out chena cultivation from 1969 to 1975. Nevertheless after the year 1975, it was decided to settle down in that farming land which was Ragamwila village as drinking water was available there.
Afterwards, that farming land was known as a village. Later, villagers of that village maintained seasonal crops as well as other crops such as coconut, cashew, guava, lime & orange and in addition to farming, the sea and the lagoon were available for fishing; therefore the villagers of the aforesaid village were able to carry out the two occupations and maintain a good income level to live happily. aforesaid village migrated back to Panama.
Later on in the year 2001 when the government in power at that time signed an agreement of peace with the L.T.T.E., the parents who lived at that time and the children who are living at present resettled in that area.
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In the year 2007, forest conservation officers claimed that the land where the village is located belonged to the Forest Conservation Department and tried to mark the boundaries with stones at which point the Chief Incumbent Thero, the Divisional Secretary at that time and the villagers discussed with those officers and the land was not taken by the Forest Conservation Department as it prevails as a village. Then, the villagers were given the opportunity to live without any difficulty. At this point, the former chairman tried to take over a plot of land forcefully and there was a dispute between him and the owner of the land. Following that incident, the police and the Special Task Force began to harass the villagers and on several occasions, villagers were taken into custody by the police and later released after obtaining statements. On a latter date, the villagers were taken into custody and taken to the Pothuvil police station and it was decided to release them on bail after discussions with those who were detained, the Provincial Council Minister of Land and the villagers when they were presented before courts of law. While this lawsuit was pending, the villagers of Ragamvila lived there amicably.