Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Civil Security Coordinator, Berty Perera, is alleged of pressurizing the Assistant Fisheries Director (AFD) of Batticaloa district to implement a plan to colonize the coastal area in Koa’ralaippattu North Divisional Secretariat in Batticaloa, with Sinhalese fishermen from South, sources in Batticaloa said. Earlier attempts made by Berty Perera to colonize Vaakarai with Sinhalese fishermen from South on his own accord having failed the Coordinator is exerting pressure on government officials to realize his intention, the sources added.
There are around 50 registered owners of Karaivalaippaadu (Coastal Net Fishing Area) in Koa’ralippattu North Divisional Secretariat who are allocated a 350m stretch each.
Berty Perera has submitted a scheme to the AFD to allow temporary permission for a period on one year to the Southern Sinhalese fishermen to use the area that remains after the allocation to the registered permit holders.
The people of the coastal area said that the SLA officer’s scheme is to promote Sinhalese colonization and accused the ADF of aiding the officer in his plan and his continued injustice in treating the Tamil fishermen in the area.
Last year SLA officer Berty Perera had engaged in a scheme to aid Sinhalese people encroaching in Vaakarai but the attempt was abandoned due to the opposition of the people and the efforts of political leaders.
Now the officer is trying to colonize the area with Sinhalese fishermen in a plan disguised as a temporary arrangement, the sources said.
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