The Government has taken steps to provide a permanent solution to the grazing land dispute involving dairy farmers in the Mailathamadu-Madavanam area of Batticaloa, while stressing that no room will be allowed for ethnic conflicts in the country, Minister Sunil Handunnetti said.
Speaking at the Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee meeting held today (29), Minister Handunnetti said several long-standing issues faced by residents of the district were discussed, with the Government taking steps to protect the rights of all communities and provide lasting solutions.
Regarding the grazing land dispute, the Minister said dairy farmers had traditionally sent their cattle to the area during cultivation periods, but problems had arisen due to cultivation activities carried out by parties from the Ampara District.
He said attempts were being made by certain groups to create conflicts based on ethnic divisions, and stressed that the present Government would not allow such conflicts under any circumstances.
The Minister said a decision had been taken at the presidential level to address the issue. Steps are currently being taken to gazette the relevant area as a designated grazing land, with the agreement of the Mahaweli Authority and the Department of Forest Conservation.
Accordingly, measures will be taken to confirm the dairy farmers’ rights to use the grazing land, while alternative lands in the Mahaweli area will be provided to the other parties, he said.
He further said the rights and security of all communities would be ensured with the cooperation of all parties.
The meeting also focused on the environmental and public impact of illegal, unlicensed sand, soil and gravel mining in the district.
Minister Handunnetti said immediate measures would be taken, with the support of the Police and the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, to curb such illegal mining through a formal mechanism. He stressed that unlicensed mining activities would not be permitted under any circumstances.
The shortage of transport and other resources faced by forest conservation officials in the district was also discussed.
The Minister said the number of motorcycles allocated to Batticaloa District out of those distributed to the Eastern Province was insufficient, and that steps would be taken at ministerial level, in consultation with relevant officials, to address the shortcomings. (Newswire)