Galawalayaya residents lament loss of lands near Rambakan Oya

COLOMBO (News1st): Residents of Galawalayaya have lamented the loss of their lands near the Rambakan Oya that have been given to external parties for cultivation projects. Lands spanning over 1000 acres in the vicinity of the Rambakan Oya in Galawalayaya had been accquired by the department of forest conservation in 2012. These lands were once inhabited by villagers, and dairy farmers who used to engage in farming and animal husbandry. But the usage of these lands were limited to animal husbandry after it was accquired by the department of forest conservation, before being vested with the Mahaweli Authority. Villagers point out that the distribution of these lands had taken place afterwards. Electric fences have been installed in an unorganized manner by entities that were offered these lands for cultivation purposes. The cattle in the area have been deprived of access to a source of water and also a place to rest as a result of the electric fences that have been installed surrounding these lands. Residents say that waterways have also been obstructed as a result of these fences. "They have sold off the lands with the trees and trapped nearly 6000 acres of lands using these fences," Samantha Vidyaratna, the convener of the Association to Protect the People of Uva-Wellassa said. He pointed out that elephants have begun encroaching into villages as they have lost their habitats.