The Land and Agriculture Reform Movement has issued a press release stating that the way the police remain silent in the face of attacks by illegal water robbers with political power targeting farmer leaders is a serious problem and the police must take full responsibility for making the lives of these farmer leaders unsafe by leaving the thugs at large without enforcing the law. Issuing is announced. Sri Lanka Latest News
On 27-07-2023, K.A. Ajith Kumara, the farmer leader, was brutally attacked by a group of innocent people near the Bopale lake in Mayurapura Division, and last week on Tuesday (2023-08-15) The announcement further states that the Hambantota Port Police has created the gateway to a terrible disaster without enforcing the law against the heinous crime of brutally beating the farmer leader Karunathilaka (54) in UD-60, near Lake 29 by an unknown group with sticks. .
The complete press release issued by the Land and Agriculture Reform Movement is as follows.
It is related to not taking immediate action against the inhumane attacks and tortures by unidentified groups targeting farmer leaders in Mayurapura division of Walava farming region.
The entire Mayurapura region is facing severe water shortage due to delay in providing water from Udawalawa Reservoir for crops in the yala season. Mayurapura represents 5300 farming families belonging to the Mahaweli jurisdiction. Farmer leaders who lead 86 farmer organizations in this division are intervening for the necessary assistance to the farmer groups who are dealing with the acute water shortage, damage to the plantations by wild elephants and economic problems.
According to the severe drought conditions, it is an immense effort to bring the water that is freed in various ways to the farm lands of the affected farmers, requesting water for the cultivation. Individuals and unauthorized cultivators who are cultivating large-scale fields are working to get water to fulfill their crops and needs. Such cultivators are often people who use money power, mob power and political power rather than legal status. Farmer leaders who work against them have become the ones who fall under the grip and pressure of water robbers.
Due to the inhumane attacks on two farmer leaders in Mayurapura Division in the past one month, one of them is still receiving treatment in the hospital.
Assault Case No. 01.
On 07-27-2023 at 6:00 PM, Mr. K.A. Ajith Kumara, 47 years old, a farmer leader, was brutally attacked by a group of innocent people near Bopale Lake in Mayurapura division.
Assault Case No. 02.
On 15-08-2023 at around 7.00 PM Mr. G. Karunathilaka, a 54-year-old farmer, was brutally attacked by an unknown group of people near Lake 29 in UD-60 and his hands and feet were broken.
The above incident was reported on 2023-07-27 and the second incident was reported on 2023-08-17 at the Harbor Police. But no action has been taken for this and the people who use mob power are still at large.
We remind here that the situation faced by these farmer leaders representing a large number of farming families is very tragic and there is no reason for them to be in such a situation.
We express our displeasure to the police for not identifying the gangsters responsible for these inhumane attacks and taking legal action against them. We request the people to reveal to the public as to whose will and influence the police are refusing to do such an intervention.
Even though it has been 10 days since Samanalewa has released water to Udawala Reservoir, various conflicts are developing among the farmers regarding the sharing of water in the situations where there is not enough water in the farmland. Mahaweliya, Department of Agriculture and Irrigation should intervene to prevent possible conflicts between farmers and large-scale unauthorized plantation owners.
It should be reminded that allowing these criminals to remain free without arresting them is endangering even the lives of the farmers’ leaders. If by any chance a farmer’s life is harmed, the police, who keep silent, should accept the responsibility and let the criminals go free.
