I was born in Matale. I came to Kepapilau because of this land. I have 25 acres of land with 22 mango trees, 18 acres of coconut trees, a house and a well. There was a big tamarind tree on the side of the lagoon as well. Now the army is settled there. We told the government and protested for our rights. But our lands have not been returned to us yet. They deceive us as if we are children by making promises that they will give our land back.
We are neither asking for land from the government nor for other people’s land. I have the original deed of my land. I am asking for my land which belongs to me. If I had my land, I could have stayed with my children. If my land is given back to me , I don’t have to go to cultivate peanuts for daily wages. The income of my land would be more than enough for us to live a good life. I earn 150 rupees a day from peanut cultivation. My daily travel expenses are about 100 rupees. We now live in a rented house. Its roof is broken. There is no proper place to sleep. There is no proper toilet. We don’t have a house, a toilet, or water, so we don’t have any of the basic things in life.
As poor people, we work hard every day to live a peaceful life. Even though I am the owner of 25 acres of land, now I have no right to pluck even a coconut from my land.
Kamalavalli
Kepapilav, Mullaitivu
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