Parappakandal minefield now a fertile land

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

Canal repaired by the Sri Lanka Army

Harvesting in Parappakandal

A few years ago, Parappakandal was a strategic point for the Sri Lanka Army during the Mannar liberation, . For many weeks the name of this largely unknown village was repeated in news, features and defence columns of all print and electronic media.

Parappakandal, a part of the vast terrain popularly known as the Mannar ‘Rice Bowl’ watered by the Giant’s Tank was covered with abandoned paddy fields. It became a deadly land for soldiers as they marched forward recapturing every inch of the motherland. And how many would have sacrificed their youth for this land? On this land of fallen heroes today flourishes a new harvest.

On the day of our visit, Wilson, a native of Parappakandal was harvesting paddy in his one-acre plot of land. They were using the new harvesting machines and which belonged to Tharaweeshwaran, a young businessman from Kalawanchikudy in Batticaloa. Tharaweeshwaran had brought all three of his harvesting machines from Batticaloa to harvest paddy in the ‘Rice Bowl’. Around the Giant's Tank the terrain is dotted with small tanks and webbed with irrigation canals. With terrorism escalating a major part of these irrigation systems were abandoned and paddy lands were scattered with landmines. As the people resettled, the Government mechanism, with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Army slowly but steadily made every inch of this fertile land free of danger. One by one the irrigation canals were cleared, repaired and restored enabling a steady flow of water from the Giant’s Tank to the rice fields.

The ‘Rice Bowl’ is almost entirely cultivated now. The Silavathurai area is fully under cultivation. Mullikulam which is located south of Kondachchi and North of Puttalam, has great potential for cashew cultivation.

But it is not maintained up to standard to get a good harvest.

It has the potential of producing about 35,000 tons of cashew from the 20 acres of land. Now the Army has come forward to assist re-cultivation with the help of the Civil Defence Force.

This cultivation was there earlier but was neglected with the rise of terrorism. A considerable part of this work was shouldered by the Sri Lanka Army parallel to their assistance to the Government resettlement programs.

Under the command of Wanni Security Forces Commander, Major General Boniface Perera, Army personnel in Mannar are conducting various community service projects to ease the life of these newly resettled communities.

Men of the Sri Lankan army are involved in re-building the terrorist-effected areas of the country while continuous inquiries are carried out on the allegations thrown at them. They grow food for fellow civilian, all the while maintaining a strong defence to protect the pearl of the Indian Ocean.

Army personnel are involved in work such as agriculture, building roads and helping communities. The Sri Lanka Army has over 200,000 personnel who are paid by the government and thus are duty bound to serve the country. The Army shoulders not only the responsibility of uplifting the lives of resettled communities, but also implementing major government programs including the preservation of archaeological sites.The Sri Lanka Army’s 54 Division is involved in the Mannar Fort restoration under the guidance of the Archaeological Department. Another program the troops assist in, is the development of the islet lying next to Mannar causeway, as a public entertainment ground.

“Mannar is a beautiful place but the people lack a safe place to enjoy this environment and a place for the children to play. As the Government came up with this new concept, the Sri Lanka army is supporting the construction under the government plan,” said the 54 Division, Civil Coordination Officer, Lieutenant Colonel K.K.G.S. Magnus.

In addition, a housing project being constructed by the division is almost complete. The Army helps in building houses under the assistance given by the Government of India in Thirukethiswaran, Manthai West and Nanattan in the Mannar district.

The troops of the 54 Division have contributed their strength to build over 3,000 houses in the Mannar district. Every division of the Army coming under the Wanni Security Forces Headquarters has to carry out nearly 100 community development programs per month to assist the main government plan.

At the same time the Sri Lanka Army is setting up 200 youth sports clubs in Vavuniya and Mannar. They hope the youth will make use of these clubs to enhance their skills in sports.

The initial focus would be on football, cricket, netball and other sports popular among the communities. By creating a common platform for youth from the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala communities the Army hopes it will bring them together sheding any remaining disparities.