The Eelam Tamils are being expelled from their own land through the Mahaweli scheme, as part of the Genocidal Act aimed at conducting Sinhala settlements.

The Mahaweli Development Project, initiated in 1975 with a planned completion time of 30 years, was accelerated by JR Jayawardhana, who came to power in 1977, aiming to finish it within six years. Despite this, “Project L” continues to be conducted under the umbrella of the “Mahaweli project.”

The plan underwent revisions, and 12 development projects were identified. In 1979, the Mahaweli Development Board was established to execute these projects. The success of this endeavor was attributed to Gamini Dissanayaka and the then-President JR Jayawardhana, with his son Ravi Jayawardhana working alongside.

The Weli Oya (Manalaru) settlement project, which commenced in 1984, was rapidly accelerated in 1988, utilizing the entire state machinery of Sri Lanka. On April 16, 1988, the Manalaru area of Mullaitivu district was renamed Weli Oya through a special gazette. Not only that, it was also designated as the 26th district of Sri Lanka, merged with the Anuradhapura district.

In 1984, 13,288 Eelam Tamil families residing in 42 villages across the Mullaitivu and Vavunia districts were threatened via loudspeakers, compelling them to vacate their homes within 48 hours. Failure to comply would result in forced eviction. The affected villages included:

Vavuniya District: 

– Ariyakundacholai – 118 
– Vedi vaiththa kal – 89 
– Others – 85

Mullaitivu District: 

– Kokkuthoduvai– 861 
– Karunattkeni – 370 
– Others – 66
– Kokkilai – 508 
– Mariamunai – 04 
– Muhathuthuvaram – 1004 
– Aaladikulam – 05 
– Arumugathankulam – 69 
– Naayaru – 465 
– Thannimurippu – 243 
– Andankulam – 49 
– Kumuzhamunai – 1164 
– Puliyamunai – 16

Vavuniya North Division:

– Puthukkudiripu – 351 
– Kattupoovarasankulam – 91 
– Karkulam – 101 
– Kovilpuliankulam – 81 
– Sorial – 6448

Additionally, Eelam Tamil families residing in 14 leased plots, each comprising 1000 acres under a 99-year lease, were also forcibly evicted. It’s worth noting that these lands were developed by the owners and leased for agricultural purposes.

The landowners and business holders were Eelam Tamil. For example: Radio Kannan, Dollar Farm, Ananda Trading Company, Sekasodhi and Company, S. Rajaratnam, S. Chellathurai, S. Ambalavanar, D. Nadarasa, Kent Farm, Ceylon Theatre, Ariyakundan, Cargo Boat Company, Railway Group, and Postal Group. Arthur Herath, the Superintendent of Police in Vavuniya, physically assaulted and drove them away.

How the  minister Gamini Dissanayaka and his ministry officials implemented the settlement schemes in Thirukonamalai, Mattakalappu, Vavuniya Districts like Yan Oya, Maduru Oya, Manalaru etc. in very secret manner by Herman Gunarathna, one of the officers of the Mahaweli project, wrote in Sunday Times (26-08-90). He brought it to the public domain through an article.

He wrote…;

“All wars are fought for land…The plan for settlement of people in Yan Oya and Malwathu Oya basins were worked out before the communal riots of 1983. Indeed the keenest minds in the Mahaweli, some of whom are holding top international positions were the architects of this plan. My role was that of an executor. We conceived and implemented a plan which we thought would secure the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka for a long time. We moved a large group of 45,000 land hungry (Sinhala) peasants into the Mattakalappu and Polonaruwa Districts of Maduru Oya delta. The second step was to make a similar human settlement in the Yan Oya basin. The third step was going to be a settlement of a number of people, opposed to Eelam, on the banks of the Malwathu Oya.

By settling the (Sinhala) people in the Maduru Oya we were seeking to have in the Batticaloa zone a mass of persons opposed to a separate state…Yan Oya if settled by non-separatists (Sinhala people) would have increased the population by about another 50,000. It would completely secure Trincomalee from the rebels…

All wars are waged to capture land. The plan to enforce Genocidal Sinhala settlements in Yan Oya and Maduru Oya Valley was laid before the 1983 genocidal process. In fact the sculptors of this project were well-educated intellectuals who worked on the Mahaweli. They are now working in big positions at the international level. My role in this project is to implement it.

The reason we have conceived and implemented this project is to ensure the long-term territorial development of Sri Lanka. We transported and settled 45,000 landless Sinhalese in Mattakalappu  and Polanaruvai which included the Maduru Oya Valley. Next we took steps to settle (Sinhalese) similarly in Yan Oya. Thirdly, we decided to settle the anti-Tamileelam people (Sinhala thugs) on the banks of Malwattu Oya.

By settling the Sinhalese in Maduru Oya, we created a group of people against the majority of Tamils in Mattakalppu. The Sinhala settlement  in Yan Oya would have swelled the sinhala population to 50,000. By this we can completely destroy the majority of Tamils. Also we can keep Thirukonamalai easier  in our hands….”

3,364 families were initially settled in Weli Oya (Manalaru) in 1988-89. Most of them are criminals. 35,000 people were resettled in the second phase. Sri Lankan military barracks were built between the villages to protect these settlements. Then; The Sri Lankan government renamed the Tamil village of Tannimurippu to “Janakapura” to honor the services of Major General Janaka Perera, one of the Sri Lankan Army commanders who served there.

It is worth noting that in 1997, Brigadier Gran Kalankoda had the following to say about the central importance of Manalaru:   “Manalaru (Weli oya) is very important from a military point of view. Our presence will block the North-East link. LTT cannot win the Eelam war as long as we stay there. If we leave, there will be a threat to  Padhawiya (Pathavik kulam)  Keppitikolawa and finally also to Anuradhapuram.” (Sunday Observer – 22 February)