Villagers protest against attempt take over cemetery land

 Tuesday, 07 January 2014 

Villagers in the Kanda area in Ahangama in Galle have commenced a protest campaign against the move to acquire a 100 year old cemetery land.

The protesting villagers have asked Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody whether the government was trying to now take away the people’s freedom to die in peace.

The people have accused Weerakkody of playing a double game after entering parliament with the votes given by the people in Galle.
Weerakkody had said a beach park would be put up using a part of the cemetery land and the rest would be left for the cemetery.
The residents have inquired from the Deputy Speaker as to the kind of a beach park that would be built in the middle of a cemetery.
The JVP Councillor in the Southern Province Nalin Hewage had said the government was trying to hand over the land to a petrol shed owner under the pretext of setting up a beach park.

UPFA Southern Provincial Councillor Ajith Prasanna has also supported the villager at which point, Weerakkody had accused him of joining the JVPers who were trying to gain political mileage from the incident.

It has been reported that the businessman planning to take over the cemetery is a supporter of Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and a financial backer of Weerakkody during elections.