A protest launched to urge the government to upgrade a sub divisional secretariat that has been functioning in the East for nearly four decades to the status of a divisional secretariat with full powers has completed a month. Stressing that such a move would free the Tamil people living in the area from various hardships, protesters point out that the authorities have failed to provide solutions.
Residents of the area launched their protest on 24 March in front of the Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat and held placards with their demands. Regional correspondents said that the protest was still ongoing on 27 April.
Tamils living in the area are facing a multitude of issues due to the Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat not being upgraded to the status of a divisional secretariat.
Local grassroots activist Thamodaram Pradeepan at the protest, said that the month-long struggle aims to win their rights, not to deprive anyone of their rights.
“This struggle is not against anyone, and it is not aiming to deprive anyone of their rights. This is not a struggle that asks for anything from anyone. Our fight only demands that the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat established in 1993 be given full powers.”
Tamil National People’s Front MP Selvaraja Gajendran has written to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in this regard. The letter, dated 14 April, highlights multiple hardships residents of the area have been facing for decades when it comes to obtaining essential services from the state sector.
“For three decades, the community of Kalmunai North has grappled with unresolved challenges that have significantly impeded their ability to access essential government services, thereby hindering their daily lives.”
The Tamil community’s representative further said in his letter to the Prime Minister that owing to undemocratic acts committed by public officials, tensions between the Tamil and Muslim communities may intensify leading to conflicts.
“Our demands are disrespected, and there are measures being undertaken to downgrade the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat into a sub office. There are tensions and conflicts developing between the Tamil and Muslim communities due to the motive to downgrade the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat into a sub office and the undemocratic and unlawful activities of the Kalmunai South Divisional Secretary contrary to the laws concerned.”
Speaking to journalists protester Pradeepan added that the District Secretary and the Kalmunai South Divisional Secretariat should officially cease the functioning of the Kalmunai North as a “sub” Divisional Secretariat.
“Many are of the opinion that the Kalmunai North Divisional Secretariat should not function as a sub divisional secretariat. We started this struggle after putting forward a number of demands, including that the District Secretary and the Kalmunai South Divisional Secretary stop issuing letters as Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat.”
According to regional correspondents, the Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat has been established in 1986. In 1993, the Cabinet had decided to convert the ‘sub divisional secretariat’ into a fully fledged divisional secretariat.
Although the then Home Affairs and Provincial State Secretary S.A. Obada had directed the Kalumani Divisional Secretary in writing to enforce that decision, it has not been carried out.
Tamils living in the Kalmunai North division say, when it comes to their administrative needs, in many cases, they have to seek the services of the Kalmunai South Divisional Secretariat located in a Muslim-majority area.
Adding that the Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat has not been vested with land and financial powers, they expressed concerns that in this context, Tamil-majority areas are not receiving adequate funding when it comes to development projects.
300 letters
As per civil society activist Thamodaram Pradeepan, although over 300 letters have been sent to the relevant officials regarding this issue, thus far, no solutions have been provided.
“We have written over 300 letters to the Ampara District Secretary and the subject minister’s secretary. But, we have not received a response. Although the people met with the Ampara District Secretary and directly filed a complaint, the District Secretary said that there was nothing he could do. We were told that a solution would be given after the subject minister discusses the matter with the secretary. It has been six months. However, a proper solution has not been given,”
Speaking in Parliament on 28 November 2023, TNPF Leader and MP Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam had requested that the Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat be upgraded to the status of a divisional secretariat with all the relevant powers and key high-level posts such as accountant posts.
There are 29 Grama Niladhari divisions under the Kalmunai North Sub Divisional Secretariat.
