Stop forceful eviction of people in Mannar: FLSP Youth Org

By Yohan Perera   

The wind power project in Mannar has created a fresh issue  as people are being forced to leave their lands to pave the way for the  proposed power project, a youth organisation which is affiliated to  Front Line Socialist Party (FLSP) said yesterday.   

FLSP-affiliated ‘Youth for Change’ Organisation National  Or ganiser Lahiru Weerasinghe told a media briefing that people in the  area have been subjected to forced eviction. “These people who have been  living in the area for years are facing the danger of losing their  livelihood as a result of forced eviction. Most of these people have engaged in fishing for generations. They will lose their livelihood if  they are sent away,” Weerasinghe said.    Also, he said the area is being hit by an environmental issue  as well. “Different species of birds which were seen in numbers seem to be disappearing now. Minister of Environment Dhammika  Patabendi should visit the area and see for himself the destruction that  is taking place,” he said in this regard.   

He said the government should begin a dialogue and try to come up with an amicable settlement on the issue.    Referring to the claim made by the government that the land  wind power project is to be constructed is owned by the Sri Lanka Ports  Authority, he said the government should then follow a legal process to  acquire the lands without causing inconvenience to the people.   

Weerasighe, who also focused on the raid carried out by the  anti-corruption unit on Ilmenite mining in Aruwakkalu on Sunday,  questioned as to what the police and the Central Environment Authority had been doing all  this time. “The police and the Central Environment Authority should have  taken action against this move much earlier,” he said.