Allocation of land areas in the demarcation of electoral and administrative Units

The 1976 delimitation commission demarcated Seruvila Electorate covering 700sq. miles out of the 1048 sq. mils for the 24% Sinhalese in Trincomalee district. The land area for the 76% Tamils and Muslims was the balance 348 acres.

According to 1971 censers, the population of Ampara District – 47% Muslims, 30% Sinhalese, and 23% Tamils. The Ampara electorate created for the newly settled Sinhalese under the Gal Oya state aided colonisation is 880 sq. miles. With the 370 sq. mils allocated for the Lahugala and Damana AGA division the 30% Sinhahlese were given 1,250 sq, mils – 70% Land area, where as the 70% Tamil and Muslims are left with only 30% of Land area – 525 sq, mils.

Ampara District.

Pottuvil

Sinhalese Encroachments is Predominant in  Muslim DRO Divisions in Ampara District

Former Muslim Majority Panamapattu DRO Division, 472 sq,mils, population 26,916. When redemarcating the new Administrative Diivisions 19,831 -74% Muslim majority Pottuvil AGA Division was given only 22%- 103.9 sq. mils and the balance 78% -368.2 sq.mils land area was allocated for the 7,085 -26% Sinhala Majority Lahugala AGA Division.

Whrn compared the Land area of Sinhala Majority Lahugala AGA division with the Muslim Majority Kalmunai AGA Division, the Sinhalese are having 208times more than the Land area of the Muslims. When compared the land areas for the Sinhalese with the land for the Muslims in the Muslim Majority ampara District, the Sinhalese Land area is 13 times more than the Muslim Land area.

Akkaraipattu

The Akkaraipattu AGA's division had two- third Muslims and one-third Tamil population.

 Grievances of Akkaraipattu Muslim people were aggravated when malicious efforts were made to include the legitimate land and neutral resources belonging to the Muslim people with Tamil Majority Alaiyadivembu AGA's Division.

Akkaraipattu DS Division and Alayadivembu DS division were created without correct definition of the area of administration and the relevant Grama Seveka Divisions falling within the respective DS divisions. The situation continues to remain unsettled.

Sammanthurai

In the Sammanthurai Muslim Majority DRO Division, nearly 65 sq. mils of land area covering the Hardy Institute, Ampara tank, the Town area and Komari have been encroached by the Sinhalese and attached with Wewagampattu – Sinhala Majority Uhana AGA division.

 Batticaloa District

The Batticaloa district consists of 14 Pradesiya sabhas and covering and extent of 2633 sq.km. there are four predominant Muslim DS divisions and he land area – Kattankudi 3.4 sq.km. Eravur town 3.89 sq. km., Koralaipaththu west (Ottamavady) 6.84 sq.km. Koralaipaththu Central 6.50 sq. km. Total extent of Muslim land area approximately 20.0 sq. km., which is less than 1.0% of the total area of Batticaloa District where the Muslim population is nearly 30% today.

Serious issues have been raised by Muslims of Batticaloa on the ongoing activities of the several international organisations assisted by the government and the Tamil Makkal viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) in re- settling displaced Tamils on lands owned by Muslims.

After 1985, LTTE forcibly occupied Muslims residential, agricultural and cattle farming lands –more than 35,000 acres in areas under their control. The GOSL did nothing to restore these properties owned by the Muslims on title deeds, government permits and paddy cultivation register.

Koralaipaththu Central

Although the local government commission declared Koralaipaththu central – the area of historical habitation of the Muslims, covering more than 240 sq. km., consisting of 11 Grama Sevaka Niladhari divisions, the boundaries have not yet been demarcated on ground.

Eravur

Most of the Muslim agriculture and cattle farm land owned by the Muslim situated along the chenkallady Badulla –A5 road. Today the entire along this road has come under the control of GOSL armed forces. Eravur Muslims owned more than 12,000 acres. Arrangements are being made now to bring back the Tamils who have been unlawfully occupying Muslim Lands and settle them permanently by the TMVP and the Government armed forces without any consideration of the displaced Muslims.

During the ethnic conflict 1983.1985,1990 etc., more than 12,700 muslims families were chased out by the LTTE and the Tamils forcibly occupied all the Muslim lands that came under LTTE control. The GOSL did nothing to provide any relief or paid compensation for the loss of livelihood of these displaced Muslims.

Resettlement of displaced Tamils on Muslim land in Iyankuni, Meerakerni, Michanagar, hidayathnagar, thakvanagar inn and around Eravurpaththu Pradeshiya Sabha would further deteriorate the peaceful co-existence of Muslims and Tamils in Eravur.

Kattankudy Muslim Boarders

Ollikulam, sikaram, Karbela, Palamunai, Kankeyan Odai, Keechampallam are the muslim boarder villagees of Kattankudy in arayanipathu Pradeshiya shabha. Displaced Tamils after the Tsunami and GOSL military operations to flush the LTTE terrorists in the Paduvankarai Tamil villages have been temporarily settled in private lands owned by the Muslims and the mosques. Now the TMVP with assistance of government Armed forces and help from INGO's are making arrangement to provide accommodation to settle the displaced Tamil who have come from Tamil areas, permanently on land belonging to the Muslims and the Mosques, depriving the Muslims, the lands legitimately belonging to them.

Kuchchavali

Kuchchavali Trincomalee district is a predominant Muslim area. Total population 29,697 and 8,058 families. 65% Muslims 19,443, 31% Tamils 9,282, 3% Christians 905 and 01% Sinhalese 337. Kuchchavali Pradeshiya sabha 9 members, Muslims 6, Tamils 3.

The Divisional Secretary is a Tamil in the Predominant Muslim division. Total Grama Niladharies 24.65% Muslims are given only 7 GS but the balance 17 GS are given to the Tamils and others who are only 35%. Average population of Tamil GS division is 250 people whereas the population in Muslims GS is around 1350 eg. Pulmoddai 31 l divisions.