KOMARIYA VILLAGERS DEMAND THEIR LAND BACK

Official say lands would be released to owners who could establish ownership

Residents of Komariya in the Ampara District expressed concern about delaying the release of their land in villages deserted during the military conflict.

They said the fast staged on this demand reached one month yesterday without any response from the authorities.

The villagers pointed out that more than 300 families in the Komariya area fled for their lives in view of the LTTE threat leaving their houses and property to the mercy of the jungle.

They said the Forest Conservation Department prevented them from re-occupying their land claiming that land abandoned by them now belonged to the Forest Conservation Department.

They said they returned after the war to find that the Forest

Ampara District Range Forest Conservator Munasinghe said the Komariya area was now under the Forest Conservation Department, but he found evidence of human settlements comprising about 30 houses

Conservation Department had laid boundary stones and brought their land within the forest reserve.

Ampara District Range Forest Conservator Munasinghe said the Komariya area was now under the Forest Conservation Department, but he found evidence of human settlements comprising about 30 houses.

He said the department was prepared to release land to the previous owners but another group of individuals were claiming ownership.

He said land would be released to the previous owners who could establish their ownership, title deed or other legal evidence.

Meanwhile, Ampara Govt. Agent D.M.L. Bandaranayake said he visited the area to find old houses, garden wells and other property that bear evidence of a human habitat.

Several villagers produced grants for their land.

“I need more time to carry out a study and to resolve the issue,” he said.

However, the villagers said that they would continue their fast until their demand was met.