1. Build up a National Platform on Land Issues while bringing all possible
people who are affected due to Development Displacement in SL
National Seminar on Land Issue of Development Displaced Communities around
Sri Lanka
Rationale:
The post war Sri Lanka’s aim is to be “wonders in Asia” by coming decade or so. The GOSL is
taking all possible steps to make this aim to a reality with various types of development
activities. Infra structure development, power generation, development of communication
systems, provide more facilities to investors for mega scale agriculture, fisheries, tourism
development which proposed by Ranil Wickremasinghe regime in 2002 at the regaining Sri
Lanka, which reaffirmed and launched in an intensive way during post tsunami development
program in 2005 proposed by Task Force for Rebuilding Nation[TAFREN].
In the name of patriotism and rebuilding after war, Mahinda Chinthanaya, 2005 and Mahinda
Chinthana Way Forward 2010, are also carrying out the same development program which
proposed in 2002 in Regaining Sri Lanka development program. However, all these so called
development schemes to develop tourism, launch mono crops cultivations with clearing forests,
use coastal areas for mega scale development caused serious displacement of the communities
who are dependent of farming, fisheries and forests. It is not only those people in rural, coastal
and agricultural areas but also among the urban poor communities who are living in the slums
for decades. It is necessary to evict the poor from the cities and clean them to make a pleasant
place for tourists. Some people say these slum dwellers are illegal settlers. But, they have the
voting right, electricity, water provided by the government authorities. Then, how those people
become illegal?
However, most of those affected people, whether they are in the cities, coastal or in rural areas
facing the challenge of displacement for government’s so called development program. But,
they do not have courage to come forward and fight as they are oppressed in many ways in the
present oppressive regime. The reality in SL society today is that no body takes a stand to fight
for their rights saying there is no success in fighting with the regime. Also, most of the people
are scared even to open the mouth against the present oppressive actions.
In our experience is that, if there is a movement with strong, continuous, bold actions by the
people with out giving up we could succeed and win. In Negombo Lagoon Fisher People’s
Struggle against Sea Planes gave this message. Also, at the Private Sector Pension Bill, the FTZ
workers gave the example. If we fight with utmost commitment and creativity, we could

2. succeed in any battle. This is what we learnt from those two struggles of most unorganized
sectors in SL.
So, it is clear if we take strong actions as a social movement, we could succeed in the land issue
today. But, who is ready to take the responsibility to tie the bell on the cat’s neck? Some body
should take the risk and do it. Some body should take the leadership. As, we all in the Food
Sovereignty Network in Sri Lanka facing this challenge with the communities, we all need to
take the lead and fight for the rights of these displaced communities due to land grabbing in Sri
Lanka. It is not only the coastal communities, but also agricultural workers, famers, urban poor
communities, workers and all the vulnerable groups need to bring together. What we are
attempting is to coordinate the vulnerable groups and bring them in to a platform where every
one could feel strong with mutual support and cooperation.
The situation push us to take an initiative and do the ground work in order to link the affected
communities. Now, various groups who are affected with the so called development are ready
to come forward and to build the platform of poor, landless, evicted people. We expect the
affected people would take the leadership with commitment when they feel mutual strength
and the conducive environment where they could fight for their rights.
Our Objective of the Land Forum and the National Seminar
Bring the vulnerable groups, victims, CBOs and groups fighting against land grabbing and
displacements, and also the NGOs who are supportive to the communities, to identify the
mechanism in which we could work together as a national platform of land issues and fight to
retain the land rights of the affected people.
Target groups to bring the National Platform of Land and the National Seminar
 The coastal communities from Kalpitiya, Panama, Negombo, Rathgama, due to tourism
projects launched by the private and government,
 The community at Sampur, Trincomalee, affected by Special Economic Zone at
Trincomalee,
 The communities at Panama, Vakarei and Mullikulam who are affected due to land
grabbing for security reasons,
 The communities affected due to mega scale mono crops such as banana, sugar cane
cultivations in Moneragala, Somawathiya etc.
 The communities of Uma Oya movement,
 The communities evicted from Colombo slum areas and urban poor communities,

3.  Any other movements which could suggest by various NGOs, CSO in the process of
organize the work.
Expected Out Come of the National Seminar:
• Identify leaders from various communities who could be the basis of the land platform
• Build up land platform and decide who could be the leading figures of it.
• Identify various NGOs, supportive media, TU, Political groups, Scholars, researchers who
could support the Land platform,
• Decide a continuous flow of information back and forth and keeping the close
connection with the groups who are fighting in the field.
• [More to decide by the team]
Proposed Actions:
 Preparatory meetings with affected communities,
 Meeting with NGO activists, Community Leaders and Trade Unions, scholars to organize
and plan out the future direction,[ Proposed to meet on 26th August at 10.00 am at
OXFAM Australia office at Colombo]
 Preparation of basic documents of each of the subject areas,
 Visit community groups in order to brief the National Seminar and share the
responsibilities, [17/18 August, Herman and Raajan is visiting these communities.]
 A preparation of a video documentary on land issues in Sri Lanka,[Some body should
take the lead to prepare this. Nalaka Rosairo will attend to this.
 Prepare cases to distribute which people engaged in land issues and the victories,-
[Negombo –Sea Plane, Kalpitiya- Tourism, Jaffna-IDP]- Raajan will follow up this.
Structure of National Seminar
Seminar will be structured in to 4 sections:
• “Emerging Land Grabbing & Land issues in Sri Lanka”.-[30 min]- Herman Kumara
• High light Various Land issues emerging in the communities,[90 min]-
Proposed Leaders for address the seminar.

4.  Kalpitiya- Leader of Uchchimunai community /A. Pathmanadan
 Panama
• Farmer Community Rev. Hamudurvo [TBC]
• Lagoon Fisher – K. Somasiri[To be confirmed]
 Sampur- TBD after meeting them on 17th August,
 Rathgama-Dulip Rangajeewa/ Gnanadasa[TBC]
 Polonnaruwa- Sujeewa/Manoj[TBC]
 Negombo- Aruna Roshantha[TBC]
 Vakarei-Husain [TBD]
 Mullikulam- Darshanie[TBC]
 Uma Oya- Hemantha Vithanage[TBC]
 Slum Dwellers in Colombo- [TBD]
• Open session to Q/A [30 min]-Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda/ Rev. Budhiyagama
Chandrarathana/ Sr. Sharmindanie Fernando/ [TBC]
• Proposed Actions and Plan to work as Land Platform, [30 min]-We need to propose
actions as well as a structure to go forward.- Sandun Thudugala[TBC]
Structure of Land Platform
This should be discussed and agreed by the platform membership. We expect the potential
participants could be identified by the end of the national seminar and the structure will be
discussed at the next stage. We want to bring the identified leadership to a work shop to design
the future of the platform.
Collaborating Agencies to work on Land Issues [Up to now]
• NGOs- NAFSO, Savistri, MONLAR, Environmental Justice Foundation, SL Nature Forum,
CPD, R2L, RN, APWLD,
• INGOs- FSNSA, Tourism Concern, Tim Team, ECSR-Net
• Media- Asia News, Meepura, Samabima,

5. • Scholars- Some Scholars agreed to provide inputs,[We have contacted some of them]
• Religious groups- Some religious groups are in a dialogue
• Trade Unions- ACFFTU, UFL, UFFC,
• CBOs- Organization for safe guard the rights of Kalpitiya and Island People, Panama
Lagoon Management Committee, Uma Oya Protection Movement, SFO-Galle on
Rathgama Lagoon, Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization on Negombo Lagoon
Fisheries issues,
• Net works- PHM, Praja Abhilasha,
Coordination of the work:
1. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda, Human Rights Piyesa, Ekala,
2. Herman Kumara, Convener, NAFSO, No.10, Malwatta Road, Negombo Sri Lanka.
3. Francis Raajan, Coordinator, Praja Abhilasha Network, No.10 Malwatta Road, Negombo,
Sri Lanka.
4. Ms. Subhashinie Kamalanathan, Sri Vimukthi Fisher Women Organization, Negombo.
5. Ms. Melani Manel Perera, Asia News,
6. Ms. Geetha Lakmini Fernando, NAFSO,
Action Committee for preparatory work:
1. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda,
2. Sr. Sharmandanie Fernando,
3. Sr. Noel Christine,
4. Dr. Jayampathy Samarakoon,
5. Prof. Senevi Epitawatta,
6. Mr. Sirimal Peiris, PHM
7. Ms. Padma Pushpakanthi,Savistri,

6. 8. Mr. A. Pathmanadan, PDFS,
9. Mr. Dinesh Suranjan,- All Ceylon Fisher Folk Trade Union,
10. Ms. Melani Manel- Asia News,
11. Mr.Sajeewa Chamikara,- SLNF,
12. Ms. Hema Munipura,Praja
13. Mr. L.C. Nanayakkara-MONLAR
14. Ms. Subashinie Kamalanathan-SVFWO
15. Mr. Nalaka Rosairo, NAFSO
16. Mr. Laksiri Fernando, NAFSO,
17. Ms. Geetha Lakmini, NAFSO
18. Ms. Milina Kumarie- SVFWO
19. Mr. Francis Raajan-Praja Abhilasha,
20. Mr. Herman Kumara, NAFSO