The Sri Lankan military is engaged in destroying the Palmyra trees in people’s lands at Vattuvakal in Mullaitivu district, one of the reporters for Global Tamil News reported. With the intention of doing the agricultural activities, the military is engaged in destroying Palmyra trees.
In Vadduvakal, Gotabhaya Naval Base is located in 626 acres of land in which 379 acres of land is privately owned and 247 acres of land is state land. Barbed wire fence is set up around most of these areas and kept under the navy's security installments.
Thus, about 500 families have lost their habitat. People repeatedly requested the release of these lands. Navy stated that these lands are occupied by them to ensure the national security.
While the people belonging to these lands are wandering as landless refugees, the occupying Sri Lankan Navy is engaging in cultivation in the lands of Vadduvakal people. These people questioned whether it is mentioned as the security arrangement.
While most of the Palmyra trees in this area were destroyed by the war, the occupying Sri Lankan Navy is being engaged in destroying the remaining Palmyra trees. Consequently, the land and environment of this area will be affected; the farmers of this area expressed their anxiety.
Meanwhile, Global Tamil News already reported that navy soldiers are engaged in cutting off the Palmyra trees for last few weeks. However, destroying the Palmyra trees is yet to be stopped by the navy.
After cutting off the Palmyra trees, they set it on fire. Due to that, people who pass by this road are frustrated much. Palmyra trees are being destroyed very rapidly day and night. People demanded the protection of their lands by stopping the Palmyra trees being cut.
While most of the Palmyra trees in this area were destroyed by the war, the occupying Sri Lankan Navy is being engaged in destroying the remaining Palmyra trees. Consequently, the land and environment of this area will be affected; the farmers of this area expressed their anxiety.
People are afraid whether these Palmyra trees are being cut off by the occupying Sri Lankan Navy with the intention of extending the Gotabhaya Naval Camp and engaging in cultivation. They further added that the Military has no rights to destroy their resources.
Meanwhile, while the people are greatly expecting the release of their lands in the government of good governance, appropriating the lands permanently made the people of Vadduvakal sad.
These people requested the relevant officials and representatives of people to take actions for removing the Gotabhaya Camp and resettling them at their own lands.
