Minister Ranasinghe’s associates grab Mahaweli land

A village committee was formed to identify the landless individuals and a priority list was penned. With the approval of the Director General, attempts were made to distribute the land. However, only 20 lands in Chandanagama were allocated from Zone C. Following the President’s order on 11/11/2022 to cease land allocation, no further land was granted except on one instance,
- A Mahaweli Official

• Reports indicate that about 700 plots of land in Mahaweli Zones B, C, H, and L have been given to political associates so far
• President Ranil Wickremesinghe banned the granting of Mahaweli lands on 11/11/2022 as there were serious issues involved with this state owned operator
• The residents of Mahaweli B and C zones have voiced their concerns alleging that friends of Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Minister of Irrigation, have been granted land

It has been reported that the lands in the B, C, and H zones of Mahaweli are being distributed among associates of Mahaweli officials and politicians. This distribution is taking place despite the President’s ban on the distribution of Mahaweli lands being effective since November 11, 2022. It has come to light that nearly seven hundred plots of land, ranging from 10 to 20 perches and located in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, have been distributed so far. According to reports these lands have been allocated with the support of a close associate of a staff member serving in the office of a government politician.

The friend is known to be working in a Mahaweli office close to Mahaweli C Zone. It has been discovered that the Mahaweli lands were allocated to the politicians’ friends with the knowledge of this official and this action was taken in anticipation of a promotion before the official’s tenure came to an end. Consequently, the concerned officer has been promoted in a Mahaweli office located in Siripura. Under the guise of this new position, valuable land in Dehiattakandiya town has been allocated to political associates.

He has also engaged in a fraudulent scheme involving the sale of land at higher prices. President Ranil Wickremesinghe banned the granting of Mahaweli lands on 11/11/2022 as there were serious issues involved with this state owned operator. However, it is known that this land division has been done with the knowledge of the said politician despite the President’s order. Additionally, reports indicate that about 700 plots of land in Mahaweli Zones B, C, H, and L have been given to political associates so far. In the past, a list was prepared to identify those in need of lands. However, none of the common people have actually received any of these lands. Despite the preparation of land transfer reports for the people no one has actually received land to date. The names of common people are mentioned in the land transfer reports, but they remain unaware of the whereabouts of their allocated land.

The land officer has signed on these reports indicating that they were submitted, but there are instances where the officer’s signature appears in the place where the land beneficiary needs to sign. Furthermore, some of the land records lack the recipient’s signature or the date of handover; even though the land officer has attested issuing the report that indicates the name of the recipient. A land transfer report has been issued in the name of Tennakoon Mudianselage Daya Somalatha, residing at No. 19, Mudungama, Siripura. The report indicates that the plot no 542 of the plan No. K.C.2005/2/7, located in Mahaulpatha in Dimbulagala division, is allocated to them. However, the size of the land is not mentioned. The land transfer report is signed by the Land Officer or Unit Manager, but no date is provided in connection with their signatures.

There is no signature of Daya Somalatha to acknowledge the receipt of the mentioned land record. DISCREPANCIES Another issue with the land transfer report is the lack of information regarding the origin, and size of the land being allocated. For example there is a land transfer report under Aparakke Jayasundara Mudianselage Gunathilake, a resident of No. 42, New Town, Siripura. The land transfer report is signed by the unit manager or land officer, but it lacks a signature and a date. Gunathilaka has signed the land transfer report on 12-11- 2022. Similar discrepancies can be found in approximately one hundred other land transfer records.

Upon examining these land records, it became evident that Mahaweli lands were also distributed from areas such as Tambuttegama, Vavuniya, Welikanda, and Dehiattakandiya. The question asked is: Where are these individuals who acquired the lands? If the location of these lands can be traced, one may uncover the root of this land fraud. The residents of Mahaweli B and C zones have voiced their concerns, alleging that while those who requested land have not received any, the friends of Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs and Minister of Irrigation, have been granted land. According to the locals, the minister’s secretary, a former member of the Dimbulagala Pradesha Sabha, and a relative of him have obtained three plots of land, each measuring 10 perches, under the pretext of residential purposes. This information is supported by letter No. MI/L/01/C-194 dated August 22, 2022 which was addressed to the Director General of Mahaweli Authority by S.A Erantika W Kularatne, Director of Lands. The letter requests further action and to inform the Director of Lands accordingly. Additionally, it has been mentioned that the minister’s secretary is willing to sell a piece of land located in the Siripura area; the land was acquired through this means, for a sum of 8 million rupees. The locals of Siripura confirmed that they have been informed about the intention to sell the land. In addition it is alleged that an area of 0.2023 hectares has been allocated for the construction of a reception hall with the approval of Minister Ranasinghe. According to the local residents this allocation has been made for a relative of the aforementioned former member of the Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha. A letter bearing the reference MI/L/DO9/C-3, dated 21-10-2022, was signed by S. A. Erandika W. Kularatne, Director of Lands, in place of the Secretary. This letter was then forwarded to the Director General of Mahaweli Authority. The letter further states that the Minister of Irrigation has granted approval for the release of 0.2023 hectares from Lot No. 173 of Plan No. 459 of Weheragala Division in Mahaweli C Zone for the purpose of constructing a reception hall.

The matter was referred to the Director General of Mahaweli Authority for further action, and the recommendations of the Director General were received on 25-10-2022. Furthermore it is also alleged that another land has been granted with the approval of Minister Ranasinghe to a brother of the former member of the Dimbulagala Pradesha Sabha for the purpose of establishing an ornamental fish project. This land, measuring 2.0234 hectares, is located in Plan Number 10H-03 Warapitiya, in Weheragala Division in Mahaweli C zone. The Mahaweli Director General has approved the disposal of this land for the said purpose. Approval has been received for the disposal of this land from the Board of Directors and the Mahaweli Director General as well as the Minister of Irrigation. These details are clarified in letter No. MI/L/ DO9/C-2, signed by S. A. Erandika W. Kularatne, Director of Lands. GUNATUNGA’S SAD STORY Currently, Mahaweli has failed to provide lease deeds for the people who have been residing on Mahaweli lands for 25-30 years and to allocate land for the second generation.

W. G. Gunatunga, who runs a shop for his livelihood in Ampara Junction in Manampitiya, has received a letter of demand from the lawyer of the Mahaweli Authority on the instructions of the Director General of the Mahaweli Authority. It states that a lease of 1204 rupees should be paid for two perches of land in the Dimbulagala division, or alternatively, fines and legal interest may be imposed. Gunatunga (62) has been sustaining his livelihood for 35 years by running a tea stall on an unauthorised land owned by the Mahaweli and Road Development Authority at the Batticaloa junction. Thanks to his business he has been financing the needs of his children. Gunatunga, who is currently ill, is facing the challenge of having to walk long distances to fetch water for his shop. He has requested the Minister of Irrigation to grant him the two perches of Mahaweli-owned land he has occupied considering the fact that it falls into the category of being unauthorised. He informed the heads of the Welikanda Mahaweli Office to provide him with the said two perches of land.

Instead of granting Gunatunga the requested two perches of land, Mahaweli officials have imposed a tax of 4204 rupees on a land that is not owned by him. In response, Gunatunga has sought a licence for the land in question, considering the payment he made. However, the Mahaweli officials claimed that the lease amount was charged for a business land previously allocated to Gunatunga, which has been sold by Gunatunga to another party after he was ill. This new owner has been diligently paying the relevant lease for the land and there is no issue regarding that land. The letter from Mahaweli clearly mentions this land as land number 118 in Manampitiya. Gunatunga has brought this matter to the attention of the Irrigation Minister, who has instructed the officials to allocate the land to him. However, despite the minister’s orders, Gunatunga is yet to receive the land. He has also paid the lease. It is not only the local residents, but also the Mahaweli officials themselves who confirmed that the Minister of Irrigation is selectively granting land to friends and relatives while denying it to those in need.

A Mahaweli official- who wished to remain anonymous- provided this newspaper with information, confirming the following: “During elections, ministers grant land through a land kachcheri, without even being aware if land is available for allocation. Over 5000 land requests were received, but there were only around 2000 available lands. Subsequently, a village committee was formed to identify the landless individuals and a priority list was penned. With the approval of the Director General, attempts were made to distribute the land. However, only 20 lands in Chandanagama were allocated from Zone C. Following the President’s order on 11/11/2022 to cease land allocation, no further land was granted except on one instance. On 14-11-2022, the President’s Secretary sent a letter to the Director General of Mahaweli through the Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation, following the orders of the President. The Director General then shared the letter with all zones through WhatsApp.

However, as of now, the Director General of Mahaweli hasn’t provided any written communication to any zone instructing them not to grant land. The officers ceased land allocation based on the WhatsApp message. Additionally, five lands were granted based on the minister’s list.” This newspaper then contacted I. G. R. U. K. Senaka Rajapaksa, the former member of the Dimbulagala Pradeshiya Sabha. He had acquired four plots of land with the approval of the irrigation minister, according to Mahaweli officers. Rajapaksa said the following: “I requested land for residential purposes, and it has been about a year since I received the land. The land was obtained through a lease agreement. Despite being a member of parliament, I do not currently own any land to reside in. The land in Veragala is where my parents live. There have been rumours circulating that my land was sold for 10 million rupees. I even sold my car four months ago, and I also own a field that has been mortgaged. People have been inquiring whether I intend to sell this land, but there is no intention to do so. The request for this land was made back in 2019, and when the necessary work was completed, the letter was signed by Minister Roshan. My brothers also received land for business purposes. The request for these lands was made between 2018 and 2019 and the approvals were granted during Minister Roshan’s tenure. People who are unaware of the details are spreading false information.”

Rajapaksa’s statement contradicts the letter from Ministry of Irrigation Secretary U. D. C. Jayalal which was dated 06-09-2021 and called for the temporary suspension of new land disposals. The letter specified that land should only be leased for agricultural purposes. This writer then attempted to speak to Minister Ranasinghe regarding these allegations of giving priority to friends during land allocation, but he was abroad. A spokesperson of his staff stated that on 11-11-2022, the president had issued an order banning the granting of the land, but the Ministry of Irrigation received the order on 14-11-2022. “Lands were issued to individuals for whom the necessary documents and transfer deeds were prepared. No land has been disposed of after the receipt of that order. The minister did not grant land to anyone based on priorities and obstacles were removed for those who requested land for business purposes. During the past two or three years land was provided on a lease basis,” he added. When this newspaper made inquiries from Residential Enterprise Manager Mahaweli B zone Indika Ranaweera he stated that he has provided the necessary responses to the COPE. He said that permission from the Director General is required to disclose information to the media, and without such permission, no statements can be made. Despite multiple attempts being made by this writer to reach Noel Jayasiri, the Residential Enterprise Manager of Mahaweli C Zone, he didn’t respond to the call.

Subsequently this newspaper contacted M G K Ramyalatha, the Deputy Resident Manager of Zone C who also declined to comment. She suggested directing the queries to Nishantha Jayatunga, the Deputy Residential Enterprise Manager (Land). On speaking with Jayatunga, he informed us that land distribution has ceased since the receipt of the President’s order and no further information can be provided without the approval of the Director General. When questioned about the matter, Sugath Weerasinghe, the Residential Enterprise Manager of Mahaweli H Zone, confirmed that he had received the President’s order on November 11, 2022, and it was received by him on November 14, 2022. Therefore he maintained that any lands allocated between the 11th and 14th are considered legal. Efforts were made to contact both Keerthi Kotagama, the Director General of Mahaweli Authority, and Kaushalya Wijeweera, the Deputy Director General (Control), regarding these inquiries, but neither responded to the phone calls taken by this newspaper. When inquired Ministry of Irrigation Secretary U.T.C. Jayalal stated that he had received a letter from the President’s Secretaryon November 14, 2022-giving instructions not to dispose of any land. He further explained that the land disposal processes that were already underway prior to this order were completed, but no further land disposals occurred thereafter.

The Secretary also mentioned issuing an order on June 9, 2021, to halt the disposal of new land; emphasizing that a decision was taken to lease land only on a short-term basis, considering the country’s economic situation.