Protest against Air Force extension project

Protesters numbering over a thousand staged a protest campaign yesterday over the proposed Air Force extension project at Anuradhapura. The protestors were mainly those residing around the new town of Anuradhapura who feared the project would interfere with their normal life.

The project involves extension work to the Air Force camp at Anuradhapura A group that styled itself as a human rights forum is said to be behind the protest. The protestors belonging to about 10 villages in the vicinity of the Air Force complex, were joined by a Buddhist monk of Thammannapura Sri Dhammalankara, Ven. Peenagama Saddhajeewa Thera, according to whom the residents would lose their homes due to the extension project. According to the villagers they may be denied access to the Nuwara wewa area resulting in difficulties for farmers and fishermen.

The procession started from Thammapura junction with protestors carrying placards. At one stage NCP Chief Minister Berty Premlal Disanayake, and Ministers Jeevan Kumaratunga, Tissa Karaliyadda and Duminda Dissanayake who were confronted by the protestors blocking the road. The Chief Minister assured the protestors that their claims would be considered at a meeting scheduled to be held on Wednesday this week.