Wilpattu Muslim Settlements Myths and Facts
Today (28), a team comprised of Journalists, Environmentalist and Social Service Activists proceeded to Wilpattu and its’ border villages on a fact finding mission.
Places visited and verified by the team:
First of all they went to Wilpattu border areas to ascertain whether any settlement of Muslims was found there. They didn’t find a single house built near the border of Wilpattu. Then the team proceeded to controversial Marichchukaddi village, which is located 20 Km from Wilpattu border.
There they found evidence of 10 houses built for Muslims in the year 1980 under Gammudawa by the then Minister of Local Government R.Premadasa on request made by the then TULF Member of Parliament for Mannar, Mr.Soosaithasan. Foundation stone laid during the period bears evidence for this. Visiting team verified and made note of it. Then they proceeded to Yassim City and Kondaichi, an exclusively Sinhala settlement, where 85 men now living there. They spoke to the villagers, who told the team in unison thus, ‘’ it is only Minister Rishad visited us as an when we are in difficulty. He is instrumental to obtain electricity and water supply to us. He built 21 houses for us from funds given by Qatar Government to build houses for Muslims. He visits us and enquire about our wellbeing periodically. None of the Buddhist monks, Environmentalists or Sinhalese radicals from the South accusing Minister Rishad, didn’t bother to visit us and find out our existence or wellbeing”.
Followed by this, the team visited a mosque built in the year 1870, which is in a depleted condition now. This depleted Mosque bears evidence of Muslims were living there. Currently areas around the Mosque are under military occupation.
Minister Rishad has briefed the team, that not only he helped and assisted Muslims and Sinhalese in resettlement, but Tamils too. He pointed out that he built 11 houses for Christian Tamils in Mullikulam. But due to time factor the team didn’t visit this settlement. This is not a conducted visit.
Rishad assisted the team to have easy access to areas they wished to visit independently and ascertain facts. At the end of the fact finding mission, the team held a on the spot media briefing.
On the spot media briefing:
Mr.Thilak Kariyawasam,, President of Srilanka Nature Group, which educate Police and tri forces on nature and Me.Saman Ratnapriya, Spokesman for All Ceylon Public officers Union are among prominent personnel briefed the Media. Minister of Industry and Commerce accompanied them in media briefing to answer questions raised by journalists of electronic and print media. Satisfied fact finding mission team is now returning back to Colombo. They are expected to clear the cloud among Sinhalese in regard to wild allegation of Wilpattu destruction.
Photos given below:
