Aanai Vilunthan paddy fields will be released immediately, assures the Director General of Forest Department

The Director General, Forest Department Mahindha Seneviratne has assured that action will be taken to release the paddy lands of Aanaivilunthan People will be released immediately.

The representatives of the Aanaivilunthan Rural Development Society and the former MP, S.Sritharan met yesterday the Director General of Forest Department at the Forest Department Head Office at Battaramulla. A discussion was held with him regarding the lands and a written request to release the lands was submitted to the Director General on behalf of the people of Aanaivilunthan. When the delegation insisted that speedy action be taken to release the lands he had assured that the lands will be released immediately.

These lands were granted to the people of Aanaivilunthan in 1984 and they were undertaking cultivation in then until the displacement and when they resettled in 2010 they found that their lands had been demarcated as Forest Department property and their livelihood being completely prevented.

It is notable that following a resolution passed at the DDC meeting, the delegation had met the director General directly and the decision release the lands had been reached.