Eviction leads to altercation between SLAF personnel and settlers in Kalpitiya

COLOMBO (News 1st); A heated altercation between locals and officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force was reported on Monday (05) when those residing in the environs of the Air Force shooting range in Kalpitiya were asked to vacate the area.

According to the Sri Lanka Air Force, the tense situation had arisen when officers were attempting to remove locals from the area pursuant to a court order.

The Air Force officers had notified the residents, the court had ordered for 29 houses in the Sagaragama village to be vacated.

Police officers had also been present at the location to provide security to the Air Force officials.

Based on reports, continuous altercations had taken place in the area since 2012 when the Sri Lanka Air Force had established camps in close proximity to the village. Only 27 families reside in the Sagaragama village at present.

Following a decision made by the Air Force to plant Coconut trees in Sagaragama recently, residents who were evicted had once again begun constructing houses in the village.

Pursuant to an inquiry made by News 1st regarding the matter, the Divisional Secretary of Kalpitiya said since the lands have no owners, authorities are currently in the process of claiming the lands.

News 1st also inquired from the Acting Spokesperson of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Wing Commander I. Chandrathilaka regarding the situation.

He said the land has been classified as a high-risk zone as a result of the military exercises taking place in the vicinity of the Kalpitiya shooting range.

He added, although requests had been made since 2005 to release these lands to the Sri Lanka Air Force, regional authorities had failed to transfer the land to the Ministry of Defence.

However, a group of residents in the area had filed a case against the Air Force against the matter and last week the court had ordered the removal of the current residents in the area.

The Media Spokesperson said, as a result of this court order officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force along with Police officers had traveled to the area to remove residents. The tense situation had arisen at that instance.