Paanama land rights campaign launched today

Paanama people together with the supporters from all over the country gathered at Paanama today to get their occupied land.
Paanama people occupied their land since 26th March and still living in the same lands. Lahugala DS Has sent letters to the villagers to vacate the land by 30th June. But people do not want to leave the lands. Instead they want to strenngthen the campaign while seeking the support from the people islandwide.
Over 600 attended and more than half of them are community members. Rev. Paanama Chandrarathana thero addressing the gathering said, "Our struggle is to get our land back. It is a long struggle and we do not want to give up this as we are now closer to the goal."
Punchirala Somasiri, leader of Panam Pattu Protection Organization said at the campaign, "We expected to get our land back by 09th January 2015. But we are still in the streets. So the good governance government also cheating us. But we dont know how long people tolerate this? Cabinet decision, Court ruling and human rights commission recommendations are not respected by the DS Lahugala. How can he issued orders us to vacate our land by 30th June?"
The campaigners agreed to continue support the campaign while Paanama people agreed to strengthen the base with uniting 5 communities of Ragamwela, Sashthrawela, Horowkanda, Ulpassa and
Paanam into Paanam Pattu Protection Organization. The second important action would be the court appeal to launch cabinet decision of 08th February 2015. Third action would be to began the cultivation in their lands to prove their tenure rights of people.