Vattawan locals protest against attempts by Archeological Dept to acquire lands

 

The name board that was put up earlier this week at Trinco- Batticalao main road. 

Villagers of Vattawan in Verugal, Trincomalee district staged a protest this week against the move by the Archaeological Department to designate their agrarian land area as a protected region. 

Earlier this week, the department put up a name board along the Trincomalee- Batticaloa main road declaring a one-kilometre radius of Vattawn village as an archaeologically protected region. Locals alleged that they were not aware of the move by the department or the local government authorities. 

Locals expressed concerns that at least 22 farmers are currently engaged in farming over 40 acres of agrarian land around the region which has been declared an archaeological site. 

The villagers also alleged that the mountain region around the Vattawan village has been subjected to significant changes in recent times with the setting up of Buddhism-related links and statues that were brought from outside. 

Locals staged a protest in front of the Divisional Secretariat this week against the move and demanded answers about how many acres of land to be acquired by the department. (Northeastern Monitor/ January 9/ 2025)