Mistaken identity and Lanka Chang gets a taste of northern anger

A protest aimed at the military based in the north, opposing the acquisition of private lands in extent of 617 acres, seemingly to extend a naval base in Vadduvaakal, Mullaithivu, took an ugly turn on Thursday when locals came to know that a ' foreigner' also has ownership of 49 acres in that plot.

The so-called foreigner turned out to be none other than Y. C. Chang, a former Sri Lanka national rugby player and former President of the Asian Rugby Football Union ( SLRFU). During his tenure as SLRFU President, he hosted the Rugby Asiad at the Sugathadasa Stadium in October 1990.

Earlier, an acquisition notice was issued to the landowners for 617 acres for the "Gotabaya Navy base"--- the public purpose being national security.

Local residents, backed by area politicos mistakenly identified him as a 'Chinese individual' and demanded that he should leave the protest site immediately. When villagers learned that Mr Chang is willing to sell his property to the government, they were furious.

The protesters stopped the land surveyors, declaring that they will not allow them to carry out surveying the land that belonged to them.

Mr Chang had to leave the premises to avoid a tense situation when the police intervened to control the protesters who were trying to stop vehicles carrying officials entering the navy base.

Later, Mr Chang, who is fluent in Tamil spoke to the local media to clear the misconception that he had nothing to do with China and that he is very much a Sri Lankan citizen. He said he had no issues with his plot being acquired by the government but demanded that he should be compensated for the value of the land and the rent for using his property for eleven years.