Manal Aru
| Weli Oya | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
 Weli Oya
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| Coordinates: 9°07′0″N 80°48′0″E / 9.11667°N 80.80000°E | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | Northern |
| District | Mullaithivu District |
| DS Division | Weli Oya |
Weli Oya, is a sinhalese settlement area in Mullaithivu District in Northern province in Sri Lanka. Weli Oya has been affected by the Sri Lankan civil war and government colonization programs.
Weli Oya was known as (Tamil: Manal Aru) traditionally before the launch of government colonization programs. A body of running water moving to a lower level in a channel on land is called Manal Aru in Tamil. It is hemmed between Anuradhapura, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee and Vavunia Districts. It is called the "border village" (s) since the territory north of Weli Oya was previously under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Today 18 villages in Weli Oya. 3,336 families and 11,189 people living in this settlement division. Majority of them are Sinhalese.
This area was known as Manal Aru. Manal in Tamil means sand, Aru in Tamil means river. A body of running water moving to a lower level in a channel on land is called Manal Aru in Tamil.
A total of 13,288 Tamil families living in 42 villages for generations including Kokkulai Grama Sevakar Division (1516 Tamil families), Kokku –Thoduvai Grama Sevakar Division (3306 Tamil families), Vavunia North Grama Sevakar Division (1342 Tamil families), Other Divisions of Mullaitivu District including Naiyaru and Kumulamunai ( 2011 Tamil families). These Traditional Tamil farming villages interspersed with small and large farms owned by Tamils or held on long lease by Tamil-owned business enterprises. The lease for 99 years was granted by the government in 1965. The extent of individual holdings varied from ten to fifty acres. Business concerns held large farms and 16 of them were a thousand acres and more. Among the large farms were: Navalar farm, Ceylon Theatres farm, Kent farm, Railway Group Farm, Postmaster Group Farm and Dollar Farm.
Tamil families were living in 42 villages for generations were asked to vacate their homes and farmlands within 48 hours on pain of eviction by force in case of default. The Military went around these villages in armored trucked and made loud announcement over public address systems mounted on the trucks. The Military also announced the government has cancelled the 99 years lease in respect of the lands given to 14 Tamil entrepreneurs.
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Wikipedia