Lands released by Navy but prohibition for agriculture, Mullikulam Farmers accuse Forest Dept

The Sri Lanka Navy had released 300 acres of 930 acre occupied earlier by them. But as the Wild Life Department is refusing to grant permission to undertake agriculture in the released lands the livelihood of 120 families are affected, the people of the area accused.

We were cultivating our lands for more than 20 years. Even during the War, we cultivated our lands. After the end of the war, the Navy occupied 2,000 acre of land here to set up their camp. Later 1,000 acre were released and 930 acre remained under the control of the Navy. 450 acre of our lands are included in this 930 acre. We were requesting all along to release these lands. Recently, the Navy released 300 acre land.

The Wild Life Department is claiming that these lands come under their purview and not allowing us to cultivate our lands.

The Musali DS said that the land was released by the Navy. The Wild Life Department is claiming ownership based on a gazette notice. More than 100 people are claiming that they cultivated these lands for more than 20 years and demanding these lands be released to them. The matter had been brought to the notice of relevant people, she said.