"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