Attempt to capture Tamil people land and mine Ilmenite mineral, at Kokkilai

During the former regime 40 acre land of the Tamil people has been acquired by coercing, with and without the consent of the people for the Mineral sands Corporation and mining of Ilmenite has been undertaken, said MPc, T.Raviharan.

On information from people that ground work has been commenced in Kokkilai, I undertook a spot visit and inspected area. The people of the area were displaced due to war and on their return they have found out that attempts had been made to dissed 40 acres of their lands and provide it to Mineral Sands Corporation. Upon being informed that work to mine Ilmenite in their land I went to the area and inspected them. A situation has been created where the environment will be affected by large scale mining in these area. The impacts of large scale mining for Ilmenite  could be seen in Pulmoddai where large scale mining was done near the beach and other places.

I will inform the situation to Provincial Minister of Environment and the CM, said MPc, T . Raviharan.