Sri Lanka President orders crackdown on Eastern Province land grabs

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake says a Special Committee headed by a Deputy Inspector General of Police will be established to protect lands in the Eastern Province and prevent illegal land grabs carried out through the misuse of political power.

The President made these remarks during the Special District Coordination Committee meeting held at the Ampara District Secretariat yesterday afternoon (May 22).

He stressed that unlawful land acquisitions and unauthorised land reclamation in the Eastern Province would no longer be tolerated and instructed security forces to prevent such activities in the future.

Addressing coastal erosion along the Eastern coastline, the President instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive plan aimed at protecting the coastline while also promoting tourism in the region. He said placing rocks and barriers is not a practical long-term solution and directed officials to conduct urgent scientific studies to identify a sustainable and permanent solution, including matters linked to the Oluvil Harbour and related fisheries infrastructure.

President Dissanayake also highlighted the tourism potential of the Eastern coastal belt and said he had received reports of unequal treatment by public officials in relation to hotel operations in coastal areas. He instructed that such discrimination must not be allowed.

The President further noted that 16 years after the end of the conflict, a proper programme to resettle displaced persons in the region has still not been implemented. He instructed officials to urgently prepare and implement a resettlement plan.

Attention was also drawn to recurring floods caused by the overflow of the Gal Oya, affecting several Divisional Secretariat areas including Ampara, Sammanthurai, Karaitivu, Addalachchenai, Kalmunai, Akkaraipattu, Irakkamam, Damana and Ninthavur. The President directed officials to carry out an urgent study to identify a permanent solution and confirmed that initial funding would be allocated.

Discussions were also held on the Thirukkovil paddy storage facility, the continuation of operations at the Addalachchenai waste recycling centre, conservation of the Nuwaragala archaeological reserve and tourism development projects in Arugam Bay, Panama and areas surrounding the Maduru Oya reserve based on indigenous villages in Henanigala South, Dehiattakandiya.

The meeting also focused on restarting a drinking water project in Lahugala initiated around five years ago by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board.

President Dissanayake also addressed issues faced by sugarcane farmers in Hingurana, stating that protecting farmers within the industry is the responsibility of the relevant companies. He stressed the need for discussions to resolve the issues quickly.

Under the Kalmunai Urban Development Project, discussions were held on bringing all government institutions currently operating in different locations within Kalmunai into a single location. The President instructed officials to submit the required plans, noting that funding could be allocated through the upcoming budget.

The meeting further discussed taking over commercially valuable lands allocated by the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority more than five years ago where projects had not been implemented. The President directed that such lands be transferred to Divisional Secretaries or the District Secretary and developed through a structured programme for public benefit.

Attention was also given to road development in Dehiattakandiya, Maha Oya and Padiyathalawa under the Road Development Authority and the Provincial Road Development Authority.

The President also highlighted teacher vacancies in schools in the Ampara District and issues related to zonal education offices. He stressed that administrative institutions such as education offices and divisional secretariats should be established based on geographical and population needs rather than ethnic considerations.

President Dissanayake stated that LKR 22,000 million has been allocated through the 2026 Budget for development projects in the Ampara District. Reviewing ongoing projects related to roads, irrigation, drinking water and housing, he instructed public officials to ensure the funds are properly utilised within the relevant financial year.

The President also separately reviewed compensation and relief measures for people affected by Cyclone Ditwah in the Ampara District, including compensation for deaths, crop and livestock losses, support for the fishing community, livelihood programmes and housing compensation and resettlement efforts.

He stressed that economically vulnerable communities were the most affected by the disaster and instructed officials to expedite housing construction and resettlement programmes without delay.

Eastern Province Governor Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, Deputy Minister Wasantha Piyathissa, Members of Parliament, local authority representatives, Chief of Presidential Staff and Commissioner General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (Retired) Sampath Thuyacontha, Ampara District Secretary Anupa Mangala Wickramarachchi and other government officials also attended the meeting.

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