The SL Minister who paid a visit to Keappaa-pulavu last week was confronted by the people. While talking to the protesters, the SL Minister revealed that the SL military got 5 million rupees to release 189 acres of lands.
But, the lands released last week were situated away from the lands seized from people in Keappaa-pulavu by the SL military.
There has been no military hardware or buildings in the lands that were released last week. Why did Swaminathan's ministry pay 5 million rupees to release the lands that were actually in the custody of SL Forest Department, the uprooted people ask.
The released lands contain 6 pieces of lands that belong to people who are not from the area. There has been no civilian settlement in the lands in the past.
The SL military has been illegally occupying the lands. Why should anyone pay money to relocate it from the seized area. Even when the money is given, the SL military is not releasing the lands that it occupies.
Just citing the protest of the people, the money is getting transferred to strengthen the military occupation of Keappaa-pulavu, the uprooted people complain.
The uprooted people are going to step up their protest seeking increased awareness on their plight.
In the meantime, the people who resettled in Pilak-kudiyiruppu after long struggle, complain that they have been completely abandoned without any infrastructure. The SL military is everywhere. The people have no shelter and no safe transport for their children to school. As a result, many families have temporarily relocated from Pilak-kudiyiruppu.
While SL military is being paid money to sustain its grip, the uprooted people have been completely abandoned, the activists further said.
