24 October 2022 10:09 am Views - 104
Thousands of acres have been encroached
By Sandun A Jayasekera
The Transport Ministry is to carry out a survey shortly to determine the extent of state lands belonging to the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR) from Kollupitiya to Panadura that are misused or in unauthorized occupation, Transport Minister Bandula Gunawardana said.
The Sri Lanka Railways alone owns state lands to the extent of 14,000 acres but most of these lands are under unauthorized or illegal possession with no benefit to the cash strapped SLR, he added.
“These lands have been vested with the SLR by the British aimed at future development of the railway service.
But vast swathes of SLR lands are under unauthorized occupation for years. Initial inquiries have revealed that a large number of commercial establishments including five star hotels, private hospitals, big companies and many other commercial establishments have been built unauthorized on SLR lands on the sea belt from Kollupitiya to Panadura.
They pay no rent or lease to the SLR. I have decided to do a survey on SLR lands on this stretch of lands on which the coast line runs and take legal action against those who use SLR lands unlawfully. I expect to use SLR lands for commercial exploitation after the survey to enhance SLR revenue,” Minister Gunawardana noted. “If we can generate an additional income by using SLR lands for commercial purposes, we can make the SLR a profit making venture and also refrain from increasing railway fares,” he stressed.
Meanwhile the government is in the process of enacting a new piece of legislation, the ‘Recovery of Possession of the Premises Given on Lease (Special Provisions) Act’ in order to repossess lands and buildings built on state lands illegally.
Other objective of the new Act is to remove the obstacles for the repossession of private houses, commercial buildings, state or private lands and office buildings given on lease or rent after a summary trial by a magistrate when occupants of these lands or buildings refuse to leave even after the rent or lease period or contract period expires, Minister Gunawardana said.