The land conflict in the North and the East has multifaceted implications. Previously, CPA looked into several contested sites in the region, where land appropriation had led to grave socio-cultural implications. In this series, we delve into the socio-economic implications of land conflict faced by minority ethnic communities living in the North and East region. Importantly, the effects of such socio-economic implications are felt nationally, with many of these vulnerable groups being unable to access land and natural resources to sustain their livelihoods. Several cases in the North and East highlighted how officials are using the pretext of protecting forests to prevent access to communities who have traditionally lived and used the lands. Another disturbing trend has been present for several years where locals who have used lands to cultivate or rear livestock for decades are now prevented from accessing their land or facing restrictions. In the Batticaloa district, cattle grazers who claim to have used state land for decades for grazing purposes are now prevented from entering the land by the Forest Department and the Civil Defense Force. Similar restrictions were evident in other areas in the North and East where the central government is appropriating land for developmental activities depriving minorities from using lands and dispossessing them from their lands. This series is based on our research and consultations with communities who have been directly affected by the land appropriation in Mayilathamadu in the Eastern province and Mannar in the Northern province.
This photo captures the protests of cattle farmers spanning over 230 days in front of Sithandy Pillayar Kovil led by the Periya Maathavanai Live Stock Farmers Society. Protesting farmers demand actions from the authorities to hold perpetrators accountable, especially to prevent encroachment by illegal settlers. There are also demands to gazette Mayilathamadu and Mathavanai as pasture land. In October 2023, the President conveyed a decision to allocate land for Sinhala farmers engaged in farming activities outside of Mayilathamadhu and asked to remove these inhabitants from the location. However, this decision has not been implemented by the authorities.
The photograph depicts a police officer inspecting the remains of a dead cattle. Since 2012, the livelihoods of Tamil livestock farmers have been severely threatened by various activities that have inhibited their access to livelihoods and natural resources. From 2012 to 2023, a total of 6948 livestock have been affected, including those that were killed, injured, disappeared, or forcibly captured due to judicial proceedings, electrification, and herbicide spraying by unidentified persons. CPA research records numerous incidents of violence.
Strikingly, there are numerous instances where many livestock that went missing have been later found tortured and killed in different ways. Tamil farmers who have utilised these grazing land for livestock farming for a prolonged period of time allege that all these are acts of intruding Sinhala farmers. Unfortunately, since the grazing land extends over 3000 ha, farmers have also faced difficulties in locating the remains of their slain cattle.
The Tamil farmers have made numerous complaints to the Koralai Pattu South Divisional Secretariat and the Karadiyanaru Police Station. Several cases were also filed against the Divisional Secretary Koralai Pattu South at the Valaichenai Magistrate's Court in 2012. The Magistrate Court in November 2013 ordered the eviction of 13 of the illegal settlers. However, there continues to be delays in investigating and prosecuting perpetrators.
The photograph shows the cover page of the demonstration book that protesting livestock farmers have at their protest site. Photographs of cattle injured and killed are placed on the cover page followed by irrigation maps, decided case reports, and other information regarding the grazing land and the ongoing dispute.
Madhavanai Mayilathadu, in the Eastern Province, spans 25,000 hectares and consists of fertile grazing land. Tamil livestock farmers from the areas of Sittandi, Vantharmolai, Illupaiyadichenai, and Morakattanchenai utilise these lands for their livestock farming activities. The grazing land supports approximately 500,000 livestock, including 175,855 buffalo and 324,145 cows capable of producing 3 litres of milk per day. Livestock farming serves as the primary source of livelihood, with 1072 families engaged in animal husbandry farming practices in the area, as per statistical data from 2023. Since 2012, Sinhalese farmers have started encroaching on the grazing land as new settlers in the area, with approximately 3150 hectares of pastoral lands currently under threat. Thousands of new settlers are also involved in corn cultivation in these lands. Livestock farmers allege that intruding farmers have tortured, caused injury, or killed more than 80 cattle. Threatening incidents have made the lives of livestock and farmers unsecured. The farmers have demanded the government take action to protect the grazing land and the cattle. They have also asked for better security measures to ensure the safety of their families and livestock.
At present, an army checkpoint exists at the entrance of Mailathamadu grazing land to prevent journalists, activists, or any others except farmers from entering into the grazing land. However, the cattle farmers who enter the grazing lands have to provide their details to the Military personnel. This photograph was taken in April 2024.
CPA's research documents similar conflicts in accessing and using land for livelihood purposes are present in other parts of the North and East.
In Mannar, land conflicts have been exacerbated with the advent of new developmental activities, particularly the controversial Adani project. This photo captures the Thambapavani Wind Farm of Phase I of the Mannar Wind Farm project, which erected 30 Wind Turbines in the South coast of Mannar in Nadukkuda village and its surroundings. According to reports, in 2020, this wind farm project, funded by the Asian Development Bank received widespread criticism due to socio-ecological implications among other issues. Against this backdrop, in March 2022, the Cabinet approved a decision to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Adani Green Energy Limited (AGESL) of India to develop two wind power stations in Mannar and Poonereyn, after receiving an unsolicited proposal for the construction and operation of the Mannar Wind Power Project (Phase-II) and another wind farm in Pooneryn by AGESL.
This photo captures the halted construction work in the Thalaimannar coastal area, where the construction of a tourist hotel was halted due to the wind turbines being installed throughout the coastal region and consequent noise pollution and vibration created by the wind turbines.
Communities also allege that palmyra trees in private lands were burnt and fences were suddenly erected in these lands, claiming that the lands were sold to the Adani wind turbine project. Palmyra trees serve multiple services to both the communities and the ecosystem. Most importantly, they take many years to grow. With many of these trees being cut down now, to make way for these developmental projects, the community is concerned for the future of Mannar.
A resident of Pesalai, Mannar alleged that the survey plan of her land was forged and sold to the Adani project. She claimed that she was initially approached by an unknown agent for the above-mentioned project but she refused.
This is a piece of land, located within the boundaries of Kavvayan Kudiyiruppu, Nadukkuda, Mannar, constituting a segment of a larger 250-acre expanse earmarked for the implementation of a proposed wind turbine project. The community claims that these are testing equipment from the proposed Adani Wind Farm. Due to disputes over the ownership of the land, a security guard is now stationed along with the establishment of a security checkpoint, under the guidance of the local law enforcement authorities. The primary objective of this security measure is to safeguard the infrastructure and equipment associated with the halted project amidst prevailing uncertainty of the project’s future. This situation serves as a microcosm of the broader complexities surrounding land allocation and development initiatives in the region, depicting the intricate interplay between legal, socio-economic, and environmental considerations.
In CPA’s consultations with the communities in Mannar in April 2024, locals alleged that illegal sand mining occurring in the Thalaimannar region was a much larger issue in Mannar, as these mining activities occur under the guise of water testing by an Australian company called “Titanium Sands”. The sand extracted is sent for testing to determine the mineral consistency, particularly of ilmenite. These clandestine mining operations have created canals extending several kilometres along the coastal areas of Thalaimannar.
Consultations with the community revealed that Titanium Sands proxies are acquiring land for the purposes of excavation by intentionally causing flooding so that livelihoods of the communities are disrupted and people eventually evacuate the land. The corruption in the Geological and Survey Mines Bureau has led to such illegal sand mining to take place. Opposition to such mining is crushed because local fixers enlist the assistance of the Police to threaten minority dissenters. Unfortunately, the history of ethnic tensions in Mannar is used against these people in the interests of financial gain.
Notably, to draw parallels between land conflicts arising due to resource extraction, communities in the East have also voiced against the unsustainable mining activities, particularly ilmenite sand mining, which have resulted in devastating social, ecological and economic implications for the local communities.