"We will coninue our Land Struggle.": Say the Valarpirai Citizen Forum leaders at Ashrofnagar, Ampara

The leaders who met at the Valarpirai Citizen Forum last Friday[20th] had decided to continue the land struggle of Ashrofnagar.
The leader who have been fighting for their land rights reaffirmed the necessity of the strengthen their land campaign vigorous manner. Most of the people are frustrated with the broken promises of the new government as their land were not given back to them as promised during the election campaign. Rather, people accused that there are new fences are built to stabilize the camps and people's requests are not heard.
Also, one way they are fighting for the land rights in the street, on the other way they are ready to intervene with the regional council elections as a means of raise their voices in the political field. They want to interact with the divisional secretary and will do their best to become part of the People's Gallery process to observe how the people's representatives engage in the debates at Local Government body.

Antony Jesudasan, who represented NAFSO at the meeting conducted an animation program with the leaders and shared the contrast about Citizen and the importance of citizen engagement on good governance and democracy, how the democracy emerged in the world and the importance of it at the program.
Jesudasan says, "People need to know what their rights as Citizens in this country. The activism and dynamic role played by the citizens in this country brought a change. Change the regime, but still need lot of distance to reach democracy and good governance we expected.
The media freedom is important and people need to fight for right to freedom of expression".

"During Mahinda regime, people expected the media freedom. But now we expect the  right to information act to be enacted so far. There is no any voice from the Civil Society as we voiced out during the past."
Added Jesudasan at the meeting at Ashrofnagar.