LTTE denies water to Seruwila farmers
SERUWILA: The LTTE has cut off the water supply to over 30,000 acres
of paddy lands in Seruwila threatening the livelihoods of a large
farmer community.
The situation has assumed grave proportions since the local population
are largely dependent on this supply for drinking purposes as well
according to the Chief incumbent of the Seruwavila Rajamaha Viharaya
the Ven. Seruwila Saranakiththi.
According reports from the area, the LTTE has shut off the sluice
gates of the Mavilaru anicut which feeds large tracks of farm land.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has confirmed the act.
The Tigers have also barred irrigation engineers from entering the
area to open the sluice gates. The majority population in the area are
Tamils while it also has a sizable Muslim population.
The Ven.Saranakiththi told the Daily News that the deprivation of
water to the paddy fields during the past three days has already
caused the withering away of paddy stalks which could destroy the
entire harvest.
The Thera said the Mavilaru anicut is the main supply source to the
entire Muttur-Seruwila and Ichchalampattu District Secretariat
divisions.
He said the situation was grave since the people depend on this supply
for drinking purposes too due to the brackish nature of the well
water.
Peace Secretariat sources in Colombo say that it is ironic that the
LTTE who claim themselves to be true representatives and liberators of
the Tamil people were causing those very people to suffer hardship.
They point out that even during fierce outbreaks of war between
countries one of the unwritten laws is not to deny civilians access to
water.
The LTTE has also been hampering development work funded by the
Government in uncleared areas. A couple of months ago LTTE cadres shot
dead 12 civilians who were repairing an irrigation tank in the
Gomarankadawala area and burnt down their vehicles and earthmoving
equipment.
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SERUWILA: The LTTE has cut off the water supply to over 30,000 acres
of paddy lands in Seruwila threatening the livelihoods of a large
farmer community.
The situation has assumed grave proportions since the local population
are largely dependent on this supply for drinking purposes as well
according to the Chief incumbent of the Seruwavila Rajamaha Viharaya
the Ven. Seruwila Saranakiththi.
According reports from the area, the LTTE has shut off the sluice
gates of the Mavilaru anicut which feeds large tracks of farm land.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has confirmed the act.
The Tigers have also barred irrigation engineers from entering the
area to open the sluice gates. The majority population in the area are
Tamils while it also has a sizable Muslim population.
The Ven.Saranakiththi told the Daily News that the deprivation of
water to the paddy fields during the past three days has already
caused the withering away of paddy stalks which could destroy the
entire harvest.
The Thera said the Mavilaru anicut is the main supply source to the
entire Muttur-Seruwila and Ichchalampattu District Secretariat
divisions.
He said the situation was grave since the people depend on this supply
for drinking purposes too due to the brackish nature of the well
water.
Peace Secretariat sources in Colombo say that it is ironic that the
LTTE who claim themselves to be true representatives and liberators of
the Tamil people were causing those very people to suffer hardship.
They point out that even during fierce outbreaks of war between
countries one of the unwritten laws is not to deny civilians access to
water.
The LTTE has also been hampering development work funded by the
Government in uncleared areas. A couple of months ago LTTE cadres shot
dead 12 civilians who were repairing an irrigation tank in the
Gomarankadawala area and burnt down their vehicles and earthmoving
equipment.
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