Farmers surround Ministry of Mahaweli and Environment demanding water

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Farmers from Matale and Vavuniya surrounded the Ministry of Mahaweli and Environment today (September 12) and staged a protest. The farmers allege that about 3000 families who were settled in the Ma-Oya, Devaladeniya region do not have a proper source of water to nurture their farmlands. The group of farmers had lost their houses due to the Moragahakanda reservoir project. Meanwhile, residents of Bogaswewa Vavuniya and Nandamithragama allege that although the government promised to provide farming lands they had not been provided with these lands. A resident at the scene stated that his family and 2821 other families were settled in 2013 in Bogaswewa Vavuniya and they were promised lands for agricultural purposes. However, all those promises have been false promises. Another protestor confirmed that without water they could not grow crops and whatever they grow now will be destroyed by the Yala season. He added that water was crucial for their farming purposes in order to feed their children. Another local stated that they demand the minister to fulfil his promise and provide them each with land of 1.5 acres. A group including the National Organizer of the All Island Farmers Federation, Namal Karunarathne met with the State Minister of Environment Ajith Mannaperuma. Namal Karunarathne noted that they have discussed to renovate the tanks in the area in a secured manner without breaching the biodiversity and the vegetation in the area. He added that they have also decided to hold another discussion on October 2nd chaired by the Minister in charge along with the responsible authorities. He further added that those who suffered the Moragahakanda tragedy were resettled with the promise of farmlands by January next year, and if the authorities still fail, they would resort to drastic measures.