Returning to their traditional land after six years, about 40 families began renovating the ‘Valukaramaya’, renaming it as ‘Sri Yahapalanaramaya.’

However, the AF and the police have seized the Bo tree and a Buddha statue that had been brought to the temple.

Promise not fulfilled

The villagers had returned to Ragamwela as the political authority failed to fulfil the promise to facilitate their resettlement by March 26.

Responding to a court order obtained by police, they point out that the cabinet decided in February 2015 to release most of the 1,200 acres of their land acquired by the Navy.

Visiting the villagers, Lahugala divisional secretary L.A. Somaratne advised them to leave the land and negotiate with the government.

They have refused, accusing the political authority and the military of ignoring a cabinet decision.

Justice yet to be done

Against this, a people’s organization last July lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Justice is yet to be done with regard to a complaint with Panama police about the villagers being driven away by a masked, armed group that stormed the village in July 2010.

The land has since been used by the AF and the Navy and the latter has even built a tourist hotel named ‘Panama Lagoon Cabana’ in the Panama lagoon, the Environment Conservation Trust revealed last year.

(pics: Francis Priyankara Costa)