HomeFate of Weli Oya Sinhalese Unclear
The future of Weli Oya, the northernmost settlement of the majority Sinhalese community and the scene of several bloody massacres, remains unclear in the event of the government going ahead with the controversial devolution package ‘The Island ’ learns. A senior government minister when asked to comment on the fate of Weli Oya Sinhalese, declined to comment over the telephone claiming that the subject is controversial. "I don't want you to misquote me," he said on Saturday.
Tamil political parties and the LTTE identify Weli Oya as Manal Aru. Tamil politicians said that this area is part of the temporarily merged North-East province. Weli Oya development project [Mahaweli System L] war launched by the United National Party [UNP] in 1983. In November 1984, Tamil terrorists massacred over 100 Sinhala settlers during attacks on Kent and Dollar farms, both located within the Weli Oya development area. According to the Sri Lankan military, Weli Oya is crucial to their continued presence in the Wanni region. In fact, two brigade eadquarters are located within this area. So far both politicians and officials involved in talks on the devolution package have not commented openly on Weli Oya.
The LTTE has repeatedly engaged the police and the army in Weli Oya. On July 25, 1993, terrorists destroyed the Janakapura detachment and seized approximately Rs 50 million worth of arms, ammunition and equipment.
The ongoing Wanni offensive , Jayasikuru [launched 188 days ago] has considerably improved security to the Weli Oya settlement area. Of the two divisions which mounted the offensive on May 13, the elite 53 Division comprising commandos, special forces and the air mobile brigade used Weli Oya as the launching point.
Apart from the Weli Oya development area, Padaviya, Padavi-Siripura, and Parakramapura are also located in the same region. Many soldiers , policemen and homeguards have been killed defending settlements there over the past 13 years. Originally there were 12 grama seva divisions in the Weli Oya development area. They are Kokkilai, Karunaddukeni, Kokkuthuduvai, Kumalamunai East, Chammalai, Kumalamunai West, Othiyamalai, Tanduvan, Mulliyavalai East, Thannirootu West, Kannukeni and Alampil. Some of these gramaseva divisions still remain under LTTE control.
Weli Oya remains one of the most controversial and talked about issues in the North East conflict, according to security and political sources. In the proposed package, under the devolution of power to regions, the government has not made any mention of Weli Oya or other predominantly Sinhala areas in the Trincomalee district.
LTTE could not drive these brave people away from their villages through all the massacres and other terrorist acts they committed. The current government should not be allowed to drive these people away from their homes through legislation. We urge you to oppose this devolution package.
Courtesy of Island Newspapers. 18 November 1997.