The villagers of Maduruoya Divulapathana in Mahaweli B region have alleged that the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka is acting on the instructions of Senthil Thondaman, the Governor of the Eastern Province, to evict them, who have been making a living by cultivating hay for many years.
After the end of the war, they came from Dehiattakandiya, Sandunpura, Mawanawela, Henanigala, Ratugala, Dambana, Rathkinda and other areas and they have been carrying out Henwaga freely from the rainwater since 2009.
Morana Warige Gunawardena, adivasi leader of Divulapatana village, mentioned that a group of officials from the Mahaweli B Regional Residential Business Management Office of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka are working in accordance with the instructions of the Governor of the Eastern Province, Sendil Thondaman, with the aim of releasing the dairy cows of the Eastern Province to this land.
He said that with the military situation in 1983, more than 1800 families engaged in traditional hain farming in the area were dispersed to different provinces.
Morana Warige Gunawardena said that it is a serious violation of human rights to evict them from the lands where they were engaged in the cultivation of hay after the war ended in 2009.
The tribal leader said this at a press conference held today (13) in Dibulapatana village.
He explained that about 50 families in the village of Dibulapathanana are helpless without any means of transportation and during the rainy season, they have been cultivating pumpkins, cucumbers, cassava, sesame, kurahang, paddy, etc.
The former resident leader, who said that he made a living by producing idal, coir and wangedi during the rainy season, pointed out that it was a serious injustice to drive him out of the area for the purpose of releasing dairy cows to Maduru Oya Dibulapatana.
Morana Warige Gunawardena said that if the government does not intervene and provide quick solutions, he will inform the tribal council as well as human rights organizations through his tribal leader Uruvarige Vannila Attho.
