The farmers say that people in the bordering villagers have grabbed some of their graze lands for cultivation.

"As a result, when cattle reach the areas which used to be graze land, the villagers catch them and ask for ransom money to release them", farmer Dharmalingam Vilvaerrajah told BBC Sandesaya.

According to farmers, these villagers have cultivated in some of the graze lands allocated for cattle. They had erected fences without government permission.

"They ask for Rs.15, 000 to Rs.20, 000 to release the cattle in their custody. There are instances when they had shot cattle. Some escaped cattle fall into the nearby tank and die. About 20 cattle have died this way", another farmer, Sunderalingam Ranjan told BBC Sandeshaya.

Yoganathan Rajani, Chairman of a Dairy Farm said that villagers should claim compensation when cattle enter into their cultivations and destroy their crops rather than shooting them.

"They have no right to shoot cattle. They should report to authorities and claim compensation. That is what they should do. During this year about 150 cows have been shot dead", he said.

Mr.Yoganatha Rajani added that if the farmers can not let their cattle into graze lands in Kevulana, Pandaranthiv, Mangalagama and Kevuliya, the government should give alternative lands to the dairy farmers.