The proceedings in Parliament were brought to a standstill as members of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) staged a protest concerning a pressing matter related to pasture land in Batticaloa.
The issue at hand was initially brought to light in September by Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam. He raised concerns about the protest organized by dairy farmers from Mayilathamadu, shedding light on the illegal settlements encroaching upon the area.
MP Rasamanickam emphatically pointed out that these farmers had been vigorously protesting against the alleged illegal occupation of grazing lands they’ve utilized for over six decades. Furthermore, there were alarming reports of settlers unlawfully seizing these lands, leading to the distressing incidents of cattle killings and land fires.
In an effort to address this dire situation, several TNA Parliamentarians, including MP Rasamanickam, convened in Parliament today to call upon state authorities to intervene promptly and prevent further destruction of both cattle and land in Mayilathamadu.
The protest by the TNA MPs escalated in intensity due to the government’s unresponsiveness, partly attributed to the absence of the subject minister during the day’s proceedings.
Opposition MP Dr. Harsha de Silva reported that a heated argument ensued between ruling party MPs, including MP Pillayan, and MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam during the protest, underscoring the gravity of the matter.
Ultimately, the protest concluded when Leader of the House MP Susil Premajayantha provided assurance that the issue would be brought to the attention of the Minister of Irrigation for immediate action.
