The controversy over the alleged resettlement of families in Wilpattu resurfaced last week with environmentalists and a government minister trading allegations.
Environmentalists have been alleging that about 1,500 people have been resettled illegally in Kallaru in Wilpattu during the previous regime under the purview of Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen.
While denying such allegations, addressing a special media briefing held last Thursday, Minister Bathiudeen said that this is an apparent vilification campaign carried out by certain groups targeting him. He vehemently denied the allegation that Muslim IDP resettlements led by him are damaging the Wilpattu Forest Reserve in Northern Province.
“During the past few weeks, some television and the news media have negatively reported on continued and illegal Muslim resettlements in the Marichchikatti Grama Niladhari Division which is outside the Wilpattu National Park. One privately owned media channel, during the last seven days, alleged that I have been destroying the Wilpattu jungle areas and also mentioned that I have been working to create an exclusive zone to settle Pakistani nationals and people from other districts in this zone. These are campaigns of vilification,” said Minister Bathiudeen.
Minister Bathiudeen also openly challenged anyone to come forward to prove if there are illegal settlers in that area who are being resettled by him. He invited all the media to tour the area, which is part of the controversy, to see if there is anybody who have been illegally resettled by him.
“I am in full support of re-settling whoever displaced in the North, be it Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. I also thank former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the Commanders of tri-forces, the forces themselves as well as all other people for the support and commitment given to re-settle in the aftermath of end of war in 2009. Though most IDPs of other communities were resettled somehow, Northern Muslim IDP issue continues and as these lands to which they returned were un-inhabited for over three decades, they have become shrub filled forests and permission was needed from the Forest Department to clear them, so that the re-settlement work could begin. The Muslim refugees do not get any support from anyone on their resettlement efforts. Last year Pakistani Government’s housing assistance for Muslim IDPs was extended to the Government of Sri Lanka but even that was a result of my own initiatives,” Minister Bathiudeen added.
However, Environment Conservation Trust Director Sajeewa Chamikara insisted that over 1,500 people have been resettled in an area around 5,000 acres in the Kallaru Forest. He added that the resettlement has not happened inside the Wilpattu National Park but the Kallaru forest is part of the forest network and comes under Forest Conservation Ordinance of the Forest Department. “Modaragan-aru Oya lies in the Northern Boundary of Wilpattu National Park. After that there is the Wilpattu North Sanctuary and the Kallaru Forest starts at the end of the Wilpattu North Sanctuary. Under the Forest Conservation Ordinance this area is also being protected,” he explained.
He further highlighted the importance of preserving this forest as it is part of the Wilpattu forest network and a water catchment area adjoined to the Kallaru river and Modaragam-aru Oya and close to several other water sources. “There are also elephant corridors and this area is full of biodiversity. Human settlement fragments and destroys the natural habitats and it might also lead to human elephant conflicts,” Mr. Chamikara noted.
According to Mr. Chamikara, resettlement in the Kallaru forest started in 2011 and 2012 under Northern Spring (Uthuru Wasanthaya) project under Minister Bathiudeeen and Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa during the previous government. He said that even though the encroachment slowed down after the new government came to power, it has picked up pace.
Mr. Chamikara insisted that this illegal settlement is a violation of the Forest Conservation Ordinance and National Environment Act. “Since this area comes under the Forest Conservation Ordinance, nobody can be resettled temporarily or permanently, nor can anybody build structures, clear the forest or engage in agricultural activities. In 2011, there was an amendment to the Forest Conservation Ordinance that introduced new laws and made laws stricter. Accordingly, if anybody violates the Forest Ordinance, that person can be arrested by the Forest Officers or the police. Not only the people who engage in such activities but also people who have given such instructions and who are involved can be arrested without a warrant according to the law,” he elaborated. Accordingly, he said that Minister Bathiudeen can also be arrested without a warrant in relation with this resettlement issue.
He further explained that according to the gazette notification 772/22 published on 24 July, 1993, if anyone is to clear any forest area over 1 hectare for a development project or to resettle over 100 families in a particular area at once, they have to do an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) and get an approval for a full environmental assessment in writing. Mr. Chamikara added that none of these legal processes have been followed when resettling people in this area.
Besides, he claimed that those who have been resettled are not the original settlers in the Modaragan-aru area. “There had not been any settlement in this Kallaru forest even before the war. But in Modaragam-aru seaside, there was an old Tamil fishing village in an area close to 1,000 acres. During the war, Sri Lankan Navy took over that village and some of the former settlers fled to India and some settled in areas like Mannar and Talaimannar. Modaragam-aru is still under Navy control and most of those former settlers in that area are still displaced – whereas Minister Bathiudeen had worked on his whims and fancies to resettle a different set of people illegally in the Kallaru forest,” Mr. Chamikara noted. He also pointed out that this can also lead to another conflict between the communities.
He reminded that according to the manifesto presented by President Maithripala Sirisena, the President assured to enforce laws related to environment but noted that the new government also seems to have failed to do so.
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Encroached Kallaru Forest and settled muslims there.in and around the water catchment area under Rajpakshe regime.
The area of settlement is totally out of proportion. INFACT OVER (03) aCRES PER PERSON. A FAMILY OF (05) WOULD HAVE RECEIVED 15 ACRES.
How generous and lavish at Government expense ????????
Environment Conservation Trust Director Sajeewa Chamikara NEED TO HALT THIS NONSENSE IMMEDIATELY AND FIND APPORPRIATE LAND FOR THE SETTLERS.
Let it be any Wasanthaya, this is not Rishad Bathiudeen’s private property.