Round Table Dialogue on Tourism and Sustainable Coastal Communities

The Round Table Dialogue on tourism and coastal communitues was conducted among various development actors and the affected communities at Colombo yeaterday.
The research report, "the dark clouds over sun shine paradise" was carried out in KKS, Kuchchaweli, Passikudah and Kalpitiya tourism zones around the country.
The representatives from the four communities were the key players in the dialogue and seriously challenged the hoteliers whose names were indicated in the report.
Francis Raajan, the Praja Abilasha coordinator of land rights campaign said, "We are not against tourism. But we are totally against the human rights violations committed by the investors, government agencies. We urge all parties to respect rights of the people."read more

Who possess the power in Sri Lanka today?

In 2010, 1200 acres of land belong to Paanama people have been forcefully grabbed by armed forces. Paanama people continued their struggle to get the land back without fear even within the autocratic regime of Mahinda Rajapakse. People's action lead to defeat MR regime at the Presidential election in January 2015.
While listening to the people's demands the newly elected President Maitripala's cabinet had decided to release 340 acres of grabbed land from Ragamwela and Shastrawela on 11 February 2015. read more

Panama People protest to release their land

The Cabinet of Sri Lanka decided to release the Ragamvila village land which were occupied by the Air Force in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. even if the decision made by the cabinet on 11th Feb 2015 , still the lands haven't been released or given to the people. read more

Dark Clouds Over the Sunshine Paradise

http://issuu.com/prajaabhilasha/docs/tourism_report_dark_clouds/1

Round Table Discussion on Researchj Findings of Sri Lanka Tourism

"Dark Clouds over Sunshine Paradise" education program at Kuchchaweli

SmsTbe STP/ NAFSO Research report was discussed among tbe coastal communities in Kuchchaweli today. Fishrrs, boat tour operators, beachseine owners, fishries activists and women around 26 prople attrnded  the program.
Raajan, the coordinator of Praja network presented the research findings to the group.
The team was highly articulated on their issues. The vice chair of the tourist boat operators association raise some critical questions challenging the whole tourism project. "Who decided to declare this tourism zone. No one consult us before they launch tourism" read more

Release of Lands and properties coming under High Security Zones

A large extent of land from the 11,639 acres which were under the control of the security forces during the war period has been already released and 6,152 acres in the Palay area is being maintained by the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Air Force as High Security Zones. The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the President and the Minister of Defense to release another 1,000 acres from this land area in different stages and as a first step of this measure to release 220 acres in J 284 Valalai Grama Niladhari Division of the Valikamam East Divisional Secretariat Division to establish a Pilot Village for resettlement of 1,022 families displaced by the War. Under this project each family will get 20 perches of land, financial assistance to construct a house. It is also proposed to establish a school, a pre school, a hospital, religious places of worship, community centres and build other infrastructure activities. The remaining 780 acres of land will also be used in the future to resettle the people displaced by the War.
 Meanwhile, it was also decided to release the lands under the control of the Air Force in the Panama area in the Eastern Province to landless people in the area except the land in an extent of 25 acres in which buildings are now being constructed. It was further decided to release the buildings presently under the control of the Security Services in the High Security Zone near the President’s House in Colombo and buildings around the Temple Trees.

Committee to investigate renovations and removals being carried out in the City of Colombo by the Urban Development

Decisions taken at the Cabinet Meeting held on 11th February, 2015

The then Ministry of Defense and Urban Development as a part of a survey carried out in the year 2010 on Metro Rehabilitation Project and other activities of the Colombo City Development, it was started to remove 68,000 families with less- facilities from their original habitats and settle them in various other places. The Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply and Drainage has received numerous complaints from the affected people in this process and from those who are concerned about these activities. Therefore, The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply and Drainage Rauf Hakeem to appoint a committee comprising the officials of the relevant institutions to investigate into the injustices that have been caused in this resettlement and rehabilitation process, to make suitable recommendations and to expedite payment of compensation to the affected people.

It was also decided that in order to ensure that this committee’s appropriate attention is being made to look into the grievances of the affected parties that the activities of this committee should be monitored by another committee comprising the following three Ministers

1. Minister Ravi Karunanayake
2. State Minister Mrs. Rosy Senanayake
3. Deputy Minister Eran Wickremaratne.

"Dark Clouds over Sunshine Paradise": Tourism Reseach Validation Meeting in Jaffna is successful

Series of education and validation meetings on tourism research report of "Dark Clouds over the Sunshine Paradise" are in progress these days in 4 places of research conducted.
Kuchchaveli, Passikudah, KKS and in Kalpitiya.
The KKS, Jaffna program was conducted at Marudanamadm agricultural training center.
There were several IDPs, even up to date attended the meeting and most are from Myliddy and KKs. read more

Forgotten people with Frustration: Mullikulam community

Mullikulam people gave up their struggle afterGotabaya Rajapakse's promises made with the mediation of Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith on December 26 in 2012.
The group was divided in to sevaral pieces. Each group became informants providing information against the others. Some of the very active volunteer active youth became nursary teachers supported by Navy with high salaries. Youth who were ready to die for gain the lands and fight for assert their rights were became deadly silence.read more

Plantation community demand decent life, Land & Livelihood

Plantation community in the mid hill country are one of the most marginalized community in the country. Not a single perch ownership for them though they have been living in the same line room and the same state for generations.read more

Panama Paththu Protection organized a meeting with the support of Praja Abhilasha Network

Panama people have organized a meeting in order to regain their land back. during the meeting they have decided to talk to more people in order to strengthen their campaign. read more

People have demonstrated to stop the Port city project in Colombo, Sri Lanka

District Seminar was conducted at Kalkuda on STP research report findings

The Seminar was conducted on 21th May 2015 at Kalkuda in Batticaloa in the eastern province of Sri Lanka.Praja Abhilasha and NAFSO has organized the event in order to validate the report findings.read more

Cabinet decission on releasing Lands in Panama area

The new government has started to work in order to sort out the land issues specially in north and eastern provinces. it was also decided to release the lands under the control of the Air Force in the Panama area in the Eastern Province in Sri Lanka read more