Move to ease tension at Arafa Nagar

By Sumaiya Rizvi and Thushani Jayawardane.

The Brigade commander of the Mutur area has spoken to the villagers of Arafa Nagar, south Trincomalee yesterday and said that he will appeal to the government to re-demarcate the High Security Zone (HSZ) Brig. Prasad Samarasinghe said. According to the Asst.Government Agent of Mutur M. Shariff, during the last three months the families were visiting the area and clearing overgrown weeds. “Only a month ago they started to cultivate few fruits and vegetables on a small scale” he said.
“The confusion was due to the military in the nearby Kattaparichchan camp allowing the families to re-visit and cultivate the area prior to the gazette notification” Brig. Samarasinghe said. However, the families were not allowed to re-settle in the area he added.
According to Brig. Samarasinghe in 1985, forty eight families left Arafa Nagar when the LTTE captured the area. Now 22 years “After re-capturing the Sampur, 84 families with 423 people have returned to re-claim the land” which was once owned by them he said. 56 Families of Arafa Nagar claim dry rations from the government said Shariff. All the families who were displaced during 1985 live with relatives and friends he added.