National meeting on Kalpitiya Tourism Issue

Praja Abhilasha Network,National Fisheries Solidarity and All Ceylon Fisher Folk Trade Union conducted a National Meeting Collectively regarding Kalpitiya Toursim Issue on 06th June 2011 at National library & Documentation Service board in Colombo.

the objective of this meeting is that to gain the support of Civil Organizations,NGOs,Trade Unions,Media People and etc... in order to overcome the issue. About 100 organizations' representatives we were present for the national meeting.

Herman kumara has pointed out the problems which was formed due to this Kalpitiya Integrated Tourism project.Further ,the community people Pathmanathan,Ayub,Dinesh continued and added. there are three islands have been leased out such as Illuppanthivu,Vellai-1,Vellai-02. Now the people who are in Mugaththuwaram is facing lots of problems they are unable to carry out their livelihood as it was earlier. Land grabbing is taking place all over the islands,violation of land law,No transperancy regarding the project,

Herewith everything are decided by the President family so people are nervous to intervene.Therefore we collectively formed a Allaiance in order to fight againist this project, Here some dicissions were taken,such as: File a case regarding the Desruction of environment(destruction of mangroves)and ensuring the livelihood.

Rev.Fr.Sarath Indamalgoda, Aruna Roshantha and Geetha lakmini have modarated the meeting.
Praja Abhilasha Coordinator Francis Raajan stated that how they have involved up to now and the necessity of collective effort.

Violating the Costal Conservation rules in Kalpitiya Islands

Where is the right to land for Estate workers in hill country?

Voice of People
“We have been living in the hill country for 180 years though, we are unable to gain the land right”

“land right is a dream for us”
“No freedom in the estate, because we have to get permission for everything from the management”
“Are we not human beings? Why do they discriminate us?”



These comments have been raised out by the estate worker’s leaders who took part at the workshop which was organized by Praja Abhilasha Network via APEDCO on 08th May, 2011 at CWF Hall in Hatton.


Further we discussed regarding the current issues of the estate workers, they have listed out the issues such as: No Housing and land rights, Lack of welfare services, Lack of education, No-drinking water, No proper transportation, No-security, language barriers, injustice, No fare wages, and etc..
Meanwhile, the people have identified the root causes. Trade unions leaders separate the people and cheat them, misleading, no co-operation among the people, No Unity among the people, estate sector is not in the state administration in Sri Lanka. Not included in the flow of the development activities, Companies focus the income generating without considering the people’s needs.
So the people have come for a common decision that they think that if they have a right to land and housing, they don’t need to depend on the estate management. Therefore participants discussed regarding the solutions for gaining the rights. So the participants decided to make aware the estate people regarding these issues.

There were 80 leaders participated in the workshop, and facilitated by Mr.Herman Kumara(Convener of NAFSO),Francis Raajan (Local Coordinator of Praja Abhilasha),Anthony Jesudasan(Coordinator of People Dialogue Network),Dr.Ravi Varma, Priyankara

Relief Aid for the flood affected people

Praja Abhilasha Network has provided a Relief Aid to the flood affected people during the worst rain in February all over in Sri Lanka, PA coordinator and the network partners have engaged to provide the relief in Mannar,Batticaloa,Amapara,Trincomalee, Puttalam and Polannaruwa. the districts coordinators were fully involved volunteerly to service.

கட்டுநாயக்க விமான நிலையம் இரட்டை ஓடுபாதைகள் கொண்டதாக விரிவுபடுத்தப்படவுள்ளது

கட்டுநாயக்க சர்வதேச விமான நிலையம் இரட்டை ஓடுபாதைகள் கொண்டதாக விரிவுபடுத்தப்படுவதற்கென அதனையண்டிய நுாறு ஹெக்டயார் காணி சுவீகரிக்கப்படவுள்ளது.கட்டுநாயக்க விமான நிலையம் கடைசியாக 1986ம் ஆண்டில் விரிவுபடுத்தப்பட்டிருந்தது. அதன் பின் விமானநிலையத்தைச் சுற்றிலும் வெற்றுக்காணிகள் இன்மை காரணமாக பல தடவைகள் முன்னெடுக்கப்பட்ட விரிவாக்கல் நடவடிக்கைகள் இடைநடுவில் கைவிடப்பட்டிருந்தன.

தற்போதைய நிலையில் கட்டுநாயக்க விமானத்தளத்தில் ஒரேயொரு ஓடுபாதை மட்டுமே இருந்தாலும், அதனைப் பயன்படுத்தி மணித்தியாலமொன்றுக்கு சுமார் இருபத்தி ஐந்து விமானப் பறப்புக்களை மேற்கொள்ள முடியும் என்று கூறப்படுகின்றது.

கட்டுநாயக்க விமானநிலையத்துக்கு மேலதிகமாக தற்போது அரசாங்கம் ஹம்பாந்தோட்டையின் மத்தள பிரதேசத்திலும் சர்வதேச விமான நிலையமொன்றை நிர்மாணிக்க ஆரம்பித்துள்ளதுடன் அதன் ஓடுபாதை 4000 மீற்றர் நீளமும், 75 மீற்றர் அகலம் கொண்டதாகவும் அமைக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றது.
Source: Tamilwin