The continuous occupation of grazing land by Sinhala settlers forces the Tamil livestock farmers to sell their cattle in Batticaloa of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. According to the local livestock farmers, the farmers belong to Mayilathamadu, Mathavanai areas are already selling their cattle and moving towards alternative work.
Over the past two years, grazing lands in Mayilathamadu, Mathavanai areas have been occupied by Sinhala settlers with the support of the Sri Lankan Government.
Following the legal action by Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament M A Sumanthiran, some occupiers leave the grazing land. However, more than 500 Sinhala Families are still occupying and disturbing the livestock farming of Tamil farmers.
In January 2021, Tamil cattle farmers in Batticaloa, who searched for their missing cattle, were kidnapped and brutally beaten by armed Sinhalese men. The killing of livestock also reported in these areas.
