National Sandalwood Park
pic by Jayamal Chandrasiri

The swimming pool built near Nuwara Wewa

Soothsayer Gnana Akka has come under the spotlight for constructing a controversial hotel in the Nuwara Wewa precinct in Anuradhapura and also for instructing the authorities to build the National Sandalwood Park near the Parliament; posing a threat to the Diyawanna Oya wetland. There are confirmed reports that military personnel were used for the construction of the hotel and providing security to it. Today’s article about her is to highlight the adverse effects of her alleged activities on the environment and she being a law unto herself. 

Sandalwood tree project  
Sandalwood trees with a natural root system suitable for the climate in the dry zone were grown recently in Diyawanna Oya wetland; not far from the Parliament in Sri Jayewardenepura. The National Sandalwood Park, an environmentally friendly, city beautification and tree planting project, is something people should appraise. However according to social media reports this park was built on the instructions of Gnana Akka. We inquired from environmentalists and the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in this regard. 

Implementing a sandalwood planting project in a wetland zone in a haphazard manner is an issue, according to Environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara. “This wetland stores floodwater in the area in addition to retaining slit and improving the quality of water. Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte wetland sanctuary has all the main features of a wetland. The area was reclaimed for development and to plant the sandalwood trees. This wetland is the home to fishing cats and several bird species. Migratory birds frequent the area. But because of the acts of reclamation, its eco system has been destroyed. Fishing cats have died because of these activities which threaten their habitats. Other bird species are also not seen at present. This wetland coming under the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Sanctuary is ruined at present because of development activities.” Chamikara added.

When inquired whether sandalwood trees were planted haphazardly because of a request from Gnana Akka, UDA Chairman Maj. General Udaya Nanayakkara said that several ministries requested to acquire the land from time to time. “Instead of these institutes taking over this land this project (Sandalwood) was carried out considering its environmental importance. It was also aimed at beautifying the area. The land consists of nine acres and the project was carried out at the cost of 300 million rupees. This was not done because of anyone’s request. 

 Gnana Akka’s hotel Lake Monark Resort

Military deployed to construct hotel
The other activities of Gnana Akka that have attracted criticism and concerns is the construction of a hotel and swimming pool in Anuradhapura. Thiwankachetiya Rajamaha Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven. Rathgama Samitha Thera, who is also the Chairman of the Nuwara Wewa United Farmers Association, said that his request for two civil security officers to clean the temple land was declined, but many officers were deployed to construct Gnana Akka’s hotel. “Military personnel are deployed to provide security to the hotel. Every local in Anuradhapura is aware of these activities which are openly carried out. They have not halted the reclamation of the Wewa. The final solution for this matter will be to take legal action. Recently there was a shortage of cement, but the construction process of this facility wasn’t affected. Anyone visiting the area can witness these things. Almost all the vehicles entering the place head to the shrine or the hotel. No other vehicles are allowed entry. Those who were engaged in fishing near the Wewa area can no longer carry out those activities. Other than Gnana Akka, even several state and cabinet ministers have taken over lands in the reserve. Dairy farmers cannot herd their cattle. The law is not enforced on these politicians. Lawmakers and advisors do visit the area, but remain silent. But we cannot remain silent and if the authorities fail to enforce the law, we ourselves will take legal action,” he added.

A licensed Surveyor in Anuradhapura M. A. Ajith Munasinghe said that ministers and businessmen have ruined the Nuwara Wewa by building hotels around the tank. “There is evidence at the Survey Department and we will take legal actions against everyone. The hotel land of Gnana Akka was bought 45 years ago as a Jaya Bhoomi transfer. There used to be a house and it is quite different to the one that is there today. Nuwaragam Palatha East Divisional Secretary transferred the land to Gnana Akka and I can assure that the land was either transferred under Gnana Akka’s name or to one of her family members. The Jaya Bhoomi licence of the land is now converted into a legal deed. Gnana Akka has even taken over the Nuwara Wewa. Now the swimming pool of the hotel is over the Nuwara Wewa. The land was in the Wewa where the reserve is. And even the Wewa is acquired. It is said to have been reclaimed and filled up to four feet to build the swimming pool. Its residues end up in the Wewa. These facts are evident in the lot no 74 and 75 of 2021 survey plans of the Survey Department. We have proved that her hotel constructions are in the 88.5 water level of the Wewa. The Survey General’s evidence was exclusively acknowledged by the court as well. We have made all these plans and present them with evidence. If responsible parties do not take necessary actions we will take to a course of action,” he added.

Several attempts to contact Gnana Akka and her son Anuruddha Jayasuriya proved futile. 
When inquired about the deploying of army personnel for the construction of Gnana Akka’s hotel Military Media Spokesperson Brigadier Nilantha Premaratne said that his office did not receive any details of deploying military personnel for a hotel construction. When asked whether the Army can be deployed for the construction of a private facility he told this writer to contact him later so that he could have sufficient information ready. 

Does she have a deed?
 The Daily Mirror made a request to Nuwaragam Palatha East Divisional Secretary Ruwan Ekanayake seeking information regarding the licence or the deed given to Gnana Akka. He asked us to make a written request as he did not have those copies, but said that he could ask the relevant parties and get them. This writer has already made a written request to him for information regarding these incidents. 

Anuradhapura District Secretary Janaka Jayasundara said that copies of the licence or deed of the relevant land could be obtained through the Nuwaragam Palatha East Divisional Secretary. He advised us to make a request for this information through the Right to Information act. 

Citizens of this country are waiting for the law to be enforced under one of the most quoted statements ‘one country – one law’ so that people destroying the environment will be brought to book. 

This author’s personal phone number seems to have got the attention of external parties after the first part in a series of articles on Gnana Akka was published the other day. These articles are penned with the aim of ensuring public welfare and done as a part of the responsibility of an alert journalist and not to insult anyone out of hatred. 

“There is evidence at the Survey Department and we will take legal actions against everyone. The hotel land of Gnana Akka was bought 45 years ago as a Jaya Bhoomi transfer. There used to be a house and it is quite different to the one available today”
-  M. A. Ajith Munasinghe Licensed Surveyor

 “My office did not receive any details of deploying military personnel for the construction of a hotel”
-Brigadier Nilantha Premaratne Military Media Spokesperson

 “Many officers were deployed to construct Gnana Akka’s hotel. Military personnel are deployed to provide security to the hotel. Every local in Anuradhapura is aware of these activities which are openly carried out. They have not halted the reclamation of the Wewa. The final solution for this matter will be to take legal action”
- Ven. Rathgama Samitha Thera Chairman of the Nuwara Wewa United Farmers Association

 “Because of the acts of reclamation, its eco system has been destroyed. Fishing cats have died because of these activities which threaten their habitats. Other bird species are also not seen at present. This wetland coming under the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Sanctuary is ruined at present because of development activities”
-Sajeewa Chamikara Environmentalist

“Instead of these institutes taking over this land this project (Sandalwood) was carried out considering its environmental importance. It was also aimed at beautifying the area. The land consists of nine acres and the project was carried out at the cost of 300 million rupees”
- Maj. General Udaya Nanayakkara UDA Chairman

New business 
Gnana Akka has started a new business as a result she is allocating less time to make predictions about the future, according to a famous Buddhist monk in the country. At present some people visit her not to hear predictions but to meet a certain big shot who visits her. Businessmen who find it difficult to meet this powerful person get the opportunity to meet the said person through Gnana Akka. She receives special treatment from these people, according to the monk.

Another person who frequents Gnana Akka is a former minister from the Colombo district who has become the talk of the town recently. He is said to have knelt before a spa in Singapore because he was unable to pay in dollars for the services rendered. It is no secret to locals that he also met with this big shot when the latter visited Gnana Akka. After meeting each other both parties had taken meals together and had forgotten about their political rivalries. Another politician has visited Gnana Akka seeking a better ministerial portfolio. He had later visited her to release the vow as his wish had come true. He had also visited Gnana Akka’s shrine. 

Confirmation 
Gnana Akka’s son Anuruddha Jayasuriya went abroad after marriage and returned to the country recently. He has told some of his friends that he had come back to attend the funeral of a relative of a VIP. But one of our sources said that he had come to manage Gnana Akka’s businesses. Gnana Akka’s son-in-law Panthaka Fernando confirmed this when we inquired from him about the hotel built on the Nuwara Wewa reserve. “Do not ask me for these details. The businesses belong to my brother-in-law. Contact him as he is the one who manages them. I do not ever visit those places. My brother-in-law has returned from England,” he added.

 Locals in the Anuradhapura area maintain that if the predictions of Gnana Akka, backed by top politicians, had come true most of the problems in the country should have been solved by now. “Instead of solving personal problems she should find solutions to problems of the country with her soothsaying skills,” they said. Securing dollars to the country and queues for fuel, gas and milk powder and starving people are the challenges before her that demand solutions. If these problems end with the blessings of Goddess Kali-who she worships- then Gnana Akka’s skills for predictions can help relieve the people of their problems, the people say.

On the contrary, her predictions are proving to be inaccurate according to locals. Scholars, with social recognition, who visited her, have lost themselves in unseen forces. No good has ever come to her clients. They only attract criticism from members of the society; adding up to their problems. Because they don’t have the potential to see the truth they still have faith in Gnana Akka. She on the other hand takes the maximum use of these unseen forces, according to locals. 

Gnana Akka has been making predictions for around 20 years. Following the previous article on her, some of her clients whose expectations were met and unmet contacted us. Those who got what they wished for have visited the shrine not more than twice afterwards and the rest have never visited the shrine ever again. Even those who visit the shrine wonder what the VIPs who visit the shrine every weekend ask for. According to locals these VIPs conduct “Kiri Ahara” poojas every weekend and worship Gnana Akka before leaving to worship the Atamasthana.