Dispute over four acre land in Dambulla

COLOMBO(News 1st): Residents of Sisirawatta, Dambulla allege a state-owned plot of land in the area spanning over 4 acres is being bulldozed by a 3rd party. Although the land is said to be a state-owned property, a 3rd party has bulldozed the land during the lockdown which was imposed given the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and have onto cultivating crops on the land. Although authorities were notified of the matter no action had been taken, residents lament. Area residents have leveled allegations against a Samurdhi Officer for the destruction. However, when Newsfirst inquired regarding the matter from the Samurdhi Officer in question, he said the plot of land had been owned by his family for nearly 40 years. "This is an incident that is being dragged for political gain", Suresh Shirantha Herath, the Samurdhi Officer in question revealed to Newsfirst. "This is a land belonging to the government. We have received two requests, one is a common request from the area residents to transform this into a playground the other is a personal request to give it out on a long term lease to cultivate mangoes. We have forwarded this issue to the co-ordinating committee meeting to provide a solution", Piyal Jayasuriya, Dambulla Divisional Secretary said when questioned regarding the matter.