COPE Probes Alleged Irregular Land Grant

COLOMBO (News 1st); At the recent session of COPE, questions were raised over the allocation of 43 acres of land from the Hanthana Estate to Mrs. Kirielle, a non-declarant under the Land Reform Commission (LRC) Act.

The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) Chairman Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera pointed out that although Mrs. Kirielle owns 22 acres, she does not qualify for a constitutional declaration under the LRC Act, which applies only to landowners exceeding 50 acres. 

Despite this, she was reportedly allocated 43 acres from land as an alternative land grant—raising concerns over procedural legitimacy.

Padmasiri Liyanage, Director General of the LRC, clarified that the land in question—Rassagala Watta, spanning 5,360 acres—was previously leased to the State Sand Corporation until 1996. Post-lease, 22 individuals declared holdings exceeding 50 acres, while 46 others, including Mrs. Kirielle, were non-declarants. He confirmed that the land remains under the State Plantation Corporation (SPC) and is currently managed by Balangoda Plantations, a regional plantation company.

Dr. Samarawira emphasized that Mrs. Kirielle, being a non-declarant, is not eligible for land release under the LRC Act. Liyanage confirmed that no land has been released to any of the 46 non-declarants, including Mrs. Kirielle, and that the LRC has no authority to release land not vested in it.

The land allocation to Mrs. Kirielle was reportedly made by the Janatha Estates Development Board, not the LRC, further distancing the Commission from the decision.