Panama
Panama,
is situated in the District of Ampara in Southeast of Sri Lanka. It comprises
of the villages of Shasthrawela, Ragamwela, Egodayaya, Horewekanda and Ulpassa.
Prior to their lands were acquired by the military and tourism projects were
commenced, the villagers in the area lived a peaceful life.
Majority
of the people in the area were engaged in agriculture, fishing and honey bee
collection. They had free access to their farmlands for agriculture and equally
engaged and enjoyed the lake, lagoon and sea for fishing.They cultivated pulses and other cereals; yams, vegetables, fruits
including permanent crops as well as paddy. The crops cultivated were sold and
also used for family’s sustenance.
2003 A
delegation comprising of the then government Minister of Health, Nutrition
& Welfare, the Assistant Government Agent of Ampara, the Divisional
Secretary of Lahugala, informed the villagers in Ragamwela that the lands
belong to the State and they will be evicted immediately.
2005 The lands in the
area of Ragamwela were taken over by the former Chairman of Pradeshiya Sabha in
the area.
2006- 2007 With the involvement of the
Chairman of Pradeshiya Sabha, lands belonging to people in Ragamwela were handed
over to Sooriya Match company.
2009 After the end of ethnic
conflict, these lands were acquired by Navy and Air force for the purpose of
establishing villages for the military officers who were disabled. This
included 1,220 acres of lands in Shasthrawela-75 families, Ragamwela-84
families (Ulpassawela, Horowkanda and Egodayaya altogether 250 families)
2010
Alternatively
the Navy built a camp in the area.
Navy
acquired lands in the areas of Horekanda , Egodayaya and Ulpassa. Further the
area was fenced by electric wires.
Navy built
a camp in the area and also a hotel in Panama Lagoon “ Panama Lagoon Cabana”
and a few other buildings.
Seven
houses and cultivation fields belonging to residents in Ragamwela and Shastrawela
were burnt down by an unknown group of
people. The people were evicted from their lands and the Air force took over control
of the area. Potuvil police denied residents’ access to their land for a period
of one year. 350 families in the area were displaced.
The
residents of Panama held a protest against the Police and the Police Special
Task Force.
The villagers filed a case (Complaint Number H.R.C./M/105/10B/OT) with the
Human Rights Commission in Ampara, invoking their right to life and land.
Following a lengthy investigation the Human Rights Commission presented
the report that included their recommendations to the Presidential Secretary on
the 27th of August 2010. The report clearly explained the unfair
treatment and pressure that the residents had faced. The report had also
clarified that these lands belonged to the residents.
2011 The Panama issue was first raised by MONLAR. Thus MONLAR has faced
severe threats from the government and MONLAR was step back. Meanwhile , PA and
NAFSO have begun to work with Paanama community and strengthened the Paanama
Pattu Protection organization. SDF (Social Development Foundation), an Oxfam
CBO partner. SDF first worked with the
Land Forum, a national level network working on land issues initiated by Oxfam.
With support from the Oxfam GROW campaign in Sri Lanka (Need clarification on
highlighting text in grey color),
.
2012 PA
coordinator Raajan and PPPO secretary P.Somasiri were questioned by the
Criminal Investigation Department at the Forth floor in Colombo. Therefore, the
Organizations met and discussed to build a wider network to face the issue of
land grabbing in Sri Lanka. Therefore, “People’s Alliance for Right to Land” (PARL)
was built in order to seek support for communities affected by land acquisitions.
The Navy
constructed three jetties on the lagoon.
2013 On
March 28, 2013, case against landgrabbing in Panama and the destruction of livelihoods
had been heard in the Magistrate Court.
On 04 April 2013, the Chief Incumbent of the Bodhirukkarama Temple of
Panama, led a group of Buddhist monks representing 08 Buddhist temples in
Panama along with another 25 men and women, all villagers of Panama and met
with Divisional Secretary of Lahugala Divisional Secretariat office.
2015 Subsequent to presidential
elections, approximately 340 acres were announced to be released and handed
back over to the people.
The Cabinet decided on the 11th of February
2015 to release 340 acres of land out of 365
acres to the community. (with the exclusion of 25 acres as there’s
construction in place).
On the 11th
of June 2015 PARL informed relevant District Secretaries of Lahugala and
Ampara, Land commissioner general and commander in chief of Sri Lanka Navy on
the cabinet decision dated 11th February 2015.
On the 15th
of June 2015 PARL informed the Prime Minister, the land commissioner general,
District Secretaries and, responsible officials in armed forces. In response
they claimed that the process of releasing land is underway.
On the 20th
of June 2015 the President was informed by PARL on the issue of releasing
lands.
A court
case bearing No. 8455/PC/09 filed
against some villagers of Panama by the Police for trespassing state owned land
by force. As court hearings and inquiries progressed it was made clear that the
land was not owned by the state. Court decided the matter on the 6th
of May 2015 and accordingly the Magistrate had acquitted and discharged the
Respondents.
15th
July 2015, PPPO tried to enter into their village forcibly. Thus, the police
stopped the people under the election violation regulations.
National Fisheries solidarity Movement [NAFSO], a partner of PARL,
went before the HRCSL on July 27, 2015 to lodge a complaint alleging that the
Divisional Secretary of Lahugala used false documents to transfer the ownership
of Panama lands to the Presidential Secretariat.
