Spotlight on Kataragama Dewalaya deviating from God worship to land grab

The villagers claim that massive destruction of the forest is being done in Kiul Ara Divisional Secretariat in the Megaswewa Reserve

• Residents claim their cultivation lands and Forest Reserve Lands were bulldosed and sold to businessmen
• The villagers say that they have forwarded their complaints to the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Wildlife, but no action has been taken so far
• The villagers claimed that massive destruction of the forest is being done in Kiul Ara  Divisional Secretariat in the Megaswewa Reserve and its surrounding area

The sacred Kataragama Devalaya is facing accusations of deforestation and land grabbing as farmers in the surrounding Meegaswewa area are being evicted from their cultivation lands. These lands are then being bulldosed and sold to businessmen for development purposes.

The ‘Daily Mirror Investigation Team’ visited the area and spoke to members of affected families. Our investigations revealed that around 1,000 acres of the Meegaswewa Forest Reserve was affected by these projects.
The villagers say that they have forwarded their complaints to the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Wildlife, but no action has been taken so far.
The villagers claimed that massive destruction of the forest is being done in Kiul Ara Divisional Secretariat in the Megaswewa Reserve and its surrounding area, which is located on the border of Udawalawa and Lunugamwehera Reserves in Thanamalvila Division of the Monaragala District.

Our investigative team was accompanied by members of the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ).
The villagers who depend on chena cultivation in this area are being compelled to leave the land.
They claimed that they used to engage in chena cultivation in the Kiul Ara, Siththarama, Bodhagama, Meegaswewa, Nika Wewa, Gaminipura, and Kithulkote Grama Niladhari areas and have lost their lands because of the ongoing property development projects.

“A significant portion of our land has already been bulldozed and subsequently sold to businessmen,” a villager claimed.
During the investigation, the team witnessed firsthand the construction of hotels and guest houses in the deforested areas.
The president of the Kiul Ara Rural Development Society also expressed concern over the removal of the 17-kilometre electric elephant fence that was originally installed by the Department of Wildlife and Conservation to protect the chenas. The fence had 
been taken down temporarily for repairs.
In addition the village farmers said that individuals who went to cultivate their chenas were arrested and fined for what was claimed to be illegal trespassing into the Udawalawa Forest Reserve.

The people also claimed that some officials of the Kataragama Dewalaya were also involved in the deforestation and subsequent sale of the forest land, including the chena areas, to businessmen.
This revelation raises serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of the process and underscores the need for a thorough investigation into these actions.
It appears that many years ago, an electric fence was installed to demarcate the cultivated chena areas from the Udawalawa Forest Reserve. However, officials of the local wildlife office subsequently removed the fence stating that it needed repairs. The fence was never replaced; leading to confusion among the villagers.

The removal of the electric fence had unintended consequences for the villages, as it resulted in the loss of protection it once provided.
“As a result, elephants began freely entering the villages and causing damage to crops and disrupting the lives of the people,” one villager complained.
For the past 23 years, the local community has been actively involved in chena cultivation.
However, the management of the Kataragama Devalaya has put forth a claim stating that the cultivated land areas are considered as Nindagama, meaning they belong to the Devalaya; which implies that the Devalaya holds the authority to intervene in these said lands at any given time.

When we visited the Devalaya and met with Nilame, he promised to provide us with two acres of land each from the Forest Reserve. However, instead of allocating us new land, he deceitfully gave us plots that had already been sold to businessmen - A Villager 

In response to the situation, the villagers took their concerns to the Thanamalwila Divisional Secretariat seeking a resolution.
The Thanamalwila Divisional Secretariat, understanding the gravity of the issue, reportedly requested the management of the Kataragama Devalaya to explore the possibility of releasing the chena areas to the people who have been engaged in cultivation.
Chena farmers maintained that they weren’t granted licences for their cultivation activities, while outside businessmen were allowed to enter and bulldoze the land without any such requirement. 

They allege that these businessmen paid Rs. 250,000 per acre of land, and there are claims that the money was collected by the Kataragama Devalaya Management.
However, the management of the devalaya refuted this claim.
The claims made by the people are concerning. They charged that the Nilame of the Kataragama Devalaya had instructed them to stop chena cultivation and pursue alternative livelihoods. The Nilame refuted this charge as well.

However, if individuals wished to continue with chena cultivation it is alleged that there were demands made on them to pay Rs. 250,000 per acre for their plots of land.
On the other hand, sources said that plots measuring 20 to 25 acres were allocated to Colombo’s prominent businessmen through the 99-year lease system.
Villagers said that their lands were seized by a secretary, who is currently managing the lands that originally belonged to the Kataragama Devalaya.

An area in the Kiul Ara area in the Meegaswewa Forest Reserve where trees have been cut and burnt

“Despite having paid Rs. 7,000 for our land, including Government Taxes, we were not provided with any receipts as proof for our payments,” one villager said.
“The individuals who bought blocks of land in the Forest Reserve, however, were granted official documents and title deeds for their properties,” he said.
“When we visited the Devalaya and met with Nilame, he promised to provide us with two acres of land each from the Forest Reserve. However, instead of allocating us new land, he deceitfully gave us plots that had already been sold to businessmen. 
“The Secretary of the Lands Department of the Devalaya had provided us with counterfeit land deeds. As a result, we were not allowed to engage in any agricultural activities on those plots,” he said.

According to the official of the Rural Development Society, the management of the Kataragama Devalaya deceived the people by falsely claiming that their lands belonged to the Devalaya and subsequently sold them to external parties
The people have claimed that the responsibility regarding deforesting the Forest Reserve and selling it to outsiders lies with the Grama Niladhari, the Forest Department and the Divisional Secretariat.

They state that their temporary huts, built on their chena lands, were demolished and the lands were subsequently sold for the 
purpose of cultivating exportable crops.
During our team’s visit to the area it was discovered that over 100 acres had been set on fire with the purpose of clearing the land.
Additionally, this writer also saw the construction of a building, claimed to be a hotel, on the banks of the Kukul Katu Vewa and Demodara Wewa; causing further deforestation in the area.
These activities have taken place under the jurisdiction of the Thanamalvila Divisional Secretariat.

According to the Forest Department, the Meegaswewa Forest Reserve is jointly owned by both the Forest Conservation Department and the Department of Wildlife and Conservation.
They further stated that the specific land areas in question haven’t been surveyed yet. Additionally, the Forest Conservation Department mentioned that the forest area claimed to be belonging to the Kataragama Devalaya hasn’t been surveyed yet.
They emphasised that individuals who enter the forest should be fined and face legal consequences.
Upon contacting the Divisional Secretary of the Thanamalwila area, it was revealed that they had received information regarding the deforestation and sale of lands, that supposedly belonged to the Kataragama Devalaya.

The development projects carried out on those purchased lands must benefit the country’s economy. But the people in the Meegaswewa area used the lands for only seasonal cultivation and now they do not engage in cultivation -  Dishan Gunasekera Basnayaka Nilame Kataragama Devalaya

As a response, the Divisional Secretary stated that a request had been made to the Devalaya management to return the lands to the rightful owners.
The Secretary’s office of the Land Management Department of the Kataragama Devalaya denies any involvement in deforestation and the sale of forest areas to businessmen. However, it seems that contacting the Secretary of the department directly has been difficult, as everyone in the office refutes the claim.

In response to the situation, the villagers have taken action by sending letters to the President, Prime Minister and the Minister of Wildlife.
These letters were intended to inform the respective authorities about the issue and to request the return of their lands so that they can continue with their cultivation activities. 
Kataragama Devalaya Basnayaka Nilame Dishan Gunasekera said that there is a procedure to obtain lands belonging to the Devalaya. He maintained that any individual can purchase land for developing purposes if the proper procedures are followed.

“Those who wish to purchase lands must make an initial payment and pay the rest on an annual interest basis,” he said.
“The development projects carried out on those purchased lands must benefit the country’s economy. But the people in the Meegaswewa area used the lands for only seasonal cultivation and now they do not engage in cultivation,” Gunasekera said.
“The forest land areas don’t belong to the Kataragama Devalaya. We have our lands. There are lands which were under the Devalaya, but now they were lawfully acquired by the Department of Wildlife and Conservation. But there are no lands in wildlife zones which belong to the Devalaya,” he said.

Politicians banned!

 With growing anger at the alleged corruption and mismanagement by politicians in the country, a handwritten board was seen put up outside a house in Thanamalwila stating that all politicians are dishonest and they cannot enter this particular house. People in the Kiul Ara Divisional Secretariat in Thanamalvila blamed the politicians for not fulfilling their promises, as a result of which their lands are now in danger. There are about eight parliamentarians representing the Monaragala District (government and opposition), and people allege that these politicians have not engaged in any development activities in their villages except selling their lands to businessmen from Colombo.