The relevant Divisional Development Committee (DDC) will have to look into the alleged encroachment of land belonging to the Nuwara Wewa reserve in Anuradhapura by various individuals, including politicians, and decide on the appropriate course of action, according to the Ministry of Land and Irrigation.

Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Dr. Susil Ranasinghe told the Parliament last week that land grabbing in and around the Nuwara Wewa reserve had turned into a political game in the past, with over 700 individuals having encroached on the area.

When queried by The Daily Morning regarding the issue, he said that he was not referring to all those living on the land as politicians, but pointed out that the list of those residing there includes individuals with legitimate deeds as well as others who had settled illegally. Among them, he said, were a few powerful former politicians from the Anuradhapura District and their supporters.

"Several former politicians and their close associates have acquired land in this area. Some of them have even built houses and tourist hotels with swimming pools. However, when it comes to the ordinary people living in the area, they have no other land to call their own. The current land that they occupy is the only land that they have. If they are evicted, they have nowhere else to go,” he said.

When questioned about the next steps, Dr. Ranasinghe said that the DDC attached to the relevant Divisional Secretariat is the appropriate forum to assess the situation. "This committee, chaired by the area’s Parliamentarian and the Divisional Secretary, includes the Grama Niladhari, Irrigation Department officials, and other local authorities. It will have to fairly determine whether those living on the land have valid grounds to occupy them and decide on the next steps accordingly," he added.