Muslim Lands Forcibly Colonised by Sinhalese in Trincomalee District

The Battukachchi area which is presently called Akbarpuram were earlier pasture land of the people of the area. Here also they chased the Muslims and colonised with Sinhalese. Even now there is a Mosque and Muslim School. When Kanthali Sugar corporation was established in 1958, more Sinhalese came in and occupied land along Alakantalai, Pottanaikadu, Peraru are few of the purana villages of the Muslims and Tamils which are now being occupied by the Sinhalese. Prior to 1965 the local government village Council chairman was a Muslim.

Kinniya which is the largest Muslim village in Trincoomalee has population of 60,000. The poor landless farmers who lost their purana lands to the Sinhalese under Kantalai colonisation Scheme, startede clearing their immediate neighbouring jungle at place called Vanaru. About 10,000 acres of land had been occupied by more than 3,000 Muslim farmers from the villages in the area – Vanaru, Sundiaru, ManiyarasanKulam, Svaru, Kalaruppu, Valamdu, Vannathipalam, Katukuli, Naduluthu etc. In 1967, the Government introduced scheme called Kusumangada Vanala Scheme and started chasing the Muslims who are in occupation of the land at Vanaru. It was during this time that a Police Station to chase away the Muslims to was in occupation of the Land and to help the Sinhalese to take possession of the lands developed by the Muslims.    

The lands owned by the Muslims are now forcibly occupied by the Sinhalese. There is serious discrimination in Trincomalee Kacheri. Annual Temporary LDO Permits were not renewed for the lands cleared and cultivated by the Muslims. But new permits are issued to the Sinhalese who suddenly come and occupy the developed land of the Muslims. Muslims are thrown out without any compensation or alternate land.

Ampara district is 1,775 square miles in extent. According to the census of 1981, the Sinhalese who are 37.2% are eligible for 660 square miles. But they have 76% or 1,340 square miles in the predominant Sinhalese areas. But the Muslims in their area have only acquired miles which is only 15% of the Land in Ampara District.

However, the political authority of the previous government are very keen to grab the developed and ready mad paddy fields of the Muslims and settle Sinhalese relatives brought from other Districts. These are the illegal politically aided Settlements of Sinhalese in Muslim areas which is over and above the 38 settlements of Sinhalese under the Gal Oya scheme 1960 -63. This manoeuvre has very seriously affected the economy and political strength of the indigenous Muslim population of Ampara District.