The issue highlights the importance of land issues handled by the provinces, says the minister

Wimalaweera Dissanayake, the land minister of the eastern province, made these remarks at a meeting people in Eravur to resolve land-related issues.

Residents of the area, mainly war displaced Muslims, informed the minister that they are prevented from re-cultivating their land by officials of the the central government.

Displaced people quoted government officials saying thousands of acres of paddy land has been set aside for grazing.

13 amendment

The minister said that the provincial government has not been informed of such action by the central government.

Although there should be areas reserved as grazing land for the cattle, the land issue of war displaced needs to be addressed as a priority   Provincial Minister Wimalaweera Dissanayake

Apart from issues faced by those who were forced to flee the war, the minister said there are many other frictions created due to ethnic differences.

Therefore, said Minister Wimalaweera, he could not agree with any action that once again forces these people to leave their ancestral lands.

"Although there should be areas reserved as grazing land for the cattle, the land issue of war displaced needs to be addressed as a priority," he said.

He added that the exclusion of people from their lands highlights the importance of the handing over of land powers to provincial governments.

Provinces are yet to be given full Police and land powers legislated by the 13 amendment to the constitution adopted after the Indo-Lanka agreement signed in 1987.