dialogue with Director General of Office for Nagtional Unity and Reconciliation on 25.02.2016

Pasikkuda fisher folks issues meeting held on 22.02.2016

Pasikkuda people discussed their issue at the Anchoring point in Pasikkuda and further said that the fisher folk do not have a place to have a meeting becasue of their anchoring point land is supposed to occupy by the tourism authorities. so the fishers emphasized that the need  their own place where they are exist now. they will not give up their land in any circumstances. also people decided to hand ove a petition to the District secretary and Divisional Secretary in order to gain the land title for their anchoring point and their residence.  

Meeeting on Paanama Land issue at Paanama Tample Hall

The Local coordinator of PA has convened the meeting on 21st Feb 2016 . There were 27 people present for the meeting and discussed about the present situatin of the Paanama. People have decided to meet the the public representation committee on new constitution at Ampara on 28th Feb.

PA submission on Plantation Community at the Public Representation Committee Hearing

The public representation committee hearing on New constitution  held at the District secretariat in Nuwara Eliya today on 20.02.2016. The Praja Abhilasha coordinator Francis Raajan has attended and submitted the recommendation on Plantation land rights to the Committee at the event. at the same time, Raajan has given the oral statement also to the committee. Raajan especially highlighted the following matters such as: Right to Adequate Housing and agricultural land for plantation people (1) Everyone should have the right to have access to adequate housing with 20 perches land; (2) Estate workers should be recognized as small farmers. (3) Everyone should have the right to have access to ½ acre agricultural land in order to promote their livelihood as small farmers and the state should be ensured that organic farming only to be promoted in the hill country. (4) Land rights should be legalized as fundamental right. (5) Estate workers land rights should be enacted in the legislation of Sri Lanka. (6) Estate people should obtain the opportunities during the decision making process on hill country development plan. (7) Plantation people’s customary rights should be legalized through implementing the Voluntary guideline of Governance of Tenure on forest and fisheries and land tenure. (8) The State must take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of this right; (9) No one may be evicted from their home, or have the home demolished, without an order of court made after considering all the relevant circumstances; (10) No legislation may permit arbitrary evictions. The PA coordinator has emphasized the importance of the land rights of the plantation workers.

Thotalaga slums people in Colombo have been evicted forcefully even if the people have documents for their habitats

http://www.tamilwin.com/show-RUmuyCSbSWfszI.html

Jana Asuna program addressed the Irudeniyaya issue on 13.02.2016

Host Forum in Pasikuda on New Tourism Development

The forum was started at 04.00pm at the Maalu Maalu Hotel in Pasikuda. Hoteliers, Travel operators, Fisher leaders and Studioses representatives were present for the meeting.

watch the vedio - The state responsibility is to solve the north east land issues

Street Protest was conduct in Front of the Galle face in Colombo demanding to stop land grabbing.

More than 700 people participated in the protest from all over the part of the country where people have been facing alnd issues specially in Mullikkulam, Valigamam from Jaffna District, Mullikkulam, Sampur, Irudeniyaya, Monaragala people who affected by Uma Oya project, Matara, Galle, Kalutara, Gampaha, Puttalam, Kalpitiya, Polonnaruwa, Ampara from Ashrof Nagar , Pallimunai from Mannar District , Batticaloa and Badulla and Hatton were present. the leaders of each area were able to go to the Presidential secretariat and Prime Minister's Secretariat (Temple Tree) and handed over a petition to the relevant officials.

Public forum on Land Rights held in Colombo

Public forum of Land Rights and Street protest which was conducted today ,11.02.2016 by People's Allaince for Right to Land (PARL). PA / NAFSO and MONLAR are Co - organizers of this event which held at CMU hall in Colombo. The objective of this event is " even if the government was changed , still people are unable to get their land as people expected by regime change. so people demand to release their land and demand the government to fulfill their election promises as given. More than 700 people took part in the event today. Parliament member.Mr.Jayampathi Wickramaratna and constitutional commission member also were present for event. we have handed over a collective proposal for the new constitution to the constitutional commission member. During the Forum , we specially highlighted the Valigamam , Kalpitiya, Irudeniyaya, Sampur, Mullikkulam, Pallimunai, Uma Oya , Port city and Pasikuda land issues where PA is engaging. The Forum was begun at 10.30 am and concluded around 01.00pm. after that people have come to the street and protest in demanding to release their land.

Media briefing was conducted by ODP

A media briefing was colnducted by th organization for displaced people at Yarl Paady Hotel on 09th Feb, 2016.

Organization for Displaced people in Valigamam North was formed

The people who displaced from valigamam north and have been living in the IDP welfare camps was formed a new organization to address their issues today on 09th February 2016. So the people met at YARL PADY hotel in Jaffna and discussed on their issue and decided to form a organization in order to work on the relocated people's issues and the people who live still in the IP camps and host families.

People’s Forum for Land Rights on 11th Feb, 2016 at CMU hall in Colombo

we are organizing a People’s Forum for Land Rights on 11th of February 2016. On 11th of February the cabinet decision of releasing Paanama land back to the community completes one year, but the people are yet to get their land back. While there are some progresses in other cases of acquired land (Sampur, Valikamam, etc) large number of people are still remain displaced and new threats of displacements are also emerging. This forum will bring communities of Paanama, Sampur, Kalpitiya, Mullikulam, Valikamam North, Irudeniyaya, Monaragala and people who will be affected by Port City project to force the Government in implementing its promises of giving the land back to their owners. During the Forum communities will reveal their current situation. PARL will also hand over its proposals for constitution in ensuring people’s right to their land to the constitutional reforms committee. The Assembly will follow with a protest march. On 11th morning the Organization for the Protection of Paanama patthuwa (community organization in Paanama) will lodge a complaint to the Human Right Commission about the delay in implementing the cabinet decision.read more

Praja Abhilasha Network's Steering Committee Held today on 05th Feb 2016 in Negombo

Praja Abhilasha steering Committee meeting was conducted in Negombo. Rev.Thomas John and Rev.Garry have been taken part in the meeting. 18 members of the Steering Committee were present and discussed about the Present situation of the Mullikkulam issue, sampur, Kuchcheveli, Valigamam, Pasikuda, Kalpitiya and Irudeniyaya issues.Also The committee decided to demand to include the right to life , and right to food sovereignty in the new constitution. Also the committee was highlighted the Economic, Social and Cultural rights should be included .

Round Table discussion on development on Sustainable Tourism in Sri Lanka held in Colombo

A Round Table discussion was conducted in Colombo at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute on Sustainable tourism Development. affected communities from the Pasikuda, Kuchchaveli, jaffna, Kalpitiya have taken part and addressed how they affected in terms of Present tourism development projects and hoteliers. More than 75 people took part in the Round Table discussion. PA and NAFSO put forward the Six step to the government and Tour operators and explained the importance. STEP 1: The State Shall Fully implement the Tenure Guidelines on land, fisheries and forests through participatory, inclusive mechanisms that prioritize the rights and needs of legitimate tenure users, especially women. STEP 2: Ensure the free, prior and informed consent for all communities affected by land transfers, and all kind of land use which are not initiated by local communities, including the fair and equitable participation of all groups within local communities, especially excluded and marginalized groups such as women, children, minorities, the elderly and disabled. STEP 3: Review public policies and projects that incentivize land grabbing, and instead support policies that prioritize the needs of small-scale food producers – particularly women – and sustainable land use. STEP 4: Guarantee protection against human rights violations committedby third parties, such as businesses. This calls for appropriate measures to prevent, investigate, prosecute and compensate for human rights violations. STEP 5: Hotels, Investors and Travel Agencies should respect human rights and avoid negative impactsthat are caused directly or through their business relations. In order to assume responsibility, they should possess corresponding principles and procedures and act with due diligence. STEP 6: The State shall take adequate measures to provide access to an effective remedy and appropriate compensation for the affected parties. In addition to judicial mechanisms, states must also provide non-judicial grievance mechanisms. Moreover, businesses should also provide effective grievance mechanisms at an operative level, or participate in such mechanisms.

Round Table Discussion on Development on Sustainable Tourism in Sri Lanka will be held in Colombo

NAFSO/ PA and STP- Swiss organization is planning for a round table dialogue with policy makers, hoteliers, investors, and possible other groups who are engage in tourism business. The program will be held on 3rd February at SLFI, Independence Avenue from 2.30-5.30pm. We invite some community representatives too to discuss the matters related to their livelihood rights, tenure rights and to raise other concerns of the coastal communities. Our aim is to emphasis the Economic Social and Cultural rights of the communities and ensure all the businesses respect the HR. Herewith, community members, government officials, politicians,Religious leaders, Representatives from diplomatic missions, Non governmental organizations and civil organizations will take part in the event.

PARL meeting was conducted at the Women Education and Research Centre in Colombo

People Alliance for Right to Land (PARL)conducted a meeting in order to discuss about the current situation of Panama, Sampur, Mullikkulam, Valigamam, Port city project and Kalpitiya Issues on 14th Jan 2016.

Jana Hasuna from Sirasa TV visited to Irudeniyaya to Highlight the Human and Elephant conflict

Jana Hasuna from Sirasa TV visited to Irudeniyaya to Highlight the Human and Elephant conflict. Sajeewa Sampath the coordinator of Kurunegala has organized the people to attend to the event on 1st of Feb 2016.read more