Many people along the Welikanda, Ridthenne and Valachchenai stretches of the Batticaloa railway line have encroached on railway reservations by force, while the Railway Department. Officials say that local politicians are making a quick buck by selling railway reservations to private parties.
It is learnt that the local politicians are making as much as 5000 rupees per perch by selling the railway land.
Railway Department officials are planning to take legal action against the encroachers after informing the Minister of Transport.
According to the Dimbulagala Buddha Sravaka Sangha Sabah, an organised gang has taken over the railway reservation on the Polonnaruwa-Batticaloa railway line from Welikanda Ridhithanna to Valachchena by force.
They have pointed out that the encroachers have started planting coconut and other crops, permanently blocking elephant corridors.
The Sangh Sabha points out that the encroachment of railway reservations has started since the Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media, Bandula Gunawardena, visited the area recently and said that railway land would be leased out at a rate of one hundred rupees per perch temporarily for cultivation.
Permanent construction has begun in the railway reserves occupied by organised personnel; permanent crop cultivation, including coconut cultivation, has begun; and the main elephant corridors in the Poonani area have been blocked. The media have been apprised of the matter by the Buddha Sravaka Sangha Sabbah.
It is reported that a group of people from Batticaloa, Valachchenai, Ottamawadi, Punani, Akkarepattu and other areas have occupied land by force from Welikanda Ridhithanna to Valachchenai.
Ven Rahulalankara said that there are about 250 parcels of such land in that area where squatters have encroached.
On inquiry, the Railway Department’s officials said that no permission whatsoever has been granted to the people to cultivate on railway reservations.
He said that some local politicians of the ruling party are indulging in the illegal act of selling railway reservations.
The officials of the Railway Department said that some groups in Batticaloa have forcibly occupied land from Welikanda Ridhithanne to Valachchenai.
