PCoI to investigate corruption of current govt. Bathiudeen’s illegal land acquisition case not within Commission’s mandate

By Yoshitha Perera 

The Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) to investigate corruption of the current government yesterday said that the evidence which were provided by MP Udaya Gammanpila against illegal land acquisition by Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and his family members was not within the Commission’s mandate.  

Earlier, PCoI had issued summons on MP Gammanpila to appear before the Commission to provide information on the alleged illegal land acquisition by Minister Bathiudeen. The summons had been issued to Gammanpila considering the statement made by Thiniyawala Palitha Thera to the PCoI.  

Testifying before the Commission, Gammanpila yesterday said that in 2010 several Muslim residents from Mannar District came to meet him and informed him 
about illegal land acquisition done by Minister Bathiudeen and his family members.   

He informed the Commission that Bathiudeen had taken almost 3,000 acres of land for about Rs.240 million to install private companies in Mannar. He said Bathiudeen had bought these lands within three years with forged deeds.   

However, Gammanpila informed the Commission that he was not aware about any illegal land acquisition or transaction which took place during the period of the current government (2015-2018).   

He further said that Bathiudeen’s wife had obtained lands to her company named Mega Constructions in Mannar to construct two roads and the lands have been bought for Rs.101 million. He also said that the roads were planned to be constructed from Veppankulam-Silawathura and Eluwankulam-Silawathura but it was not constructed yet.   

However, the Chairman of the Commission retired Supreme Court Justice Upali Aberathna said the evidence which were provided by Gammanpila was not  within the investigation period of the PCoI.   

Earlier, Colombo Chief Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne also ordered to submit a summary of a report containing witnesses of the case where North Central Provincial Council member Rifkhan Bathiudeen, brother of Industry and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiudeen had taken a land worth Rs 24 million in Talaimannar submitting forged documents.  

When the case was taken up in Courts, it was reported that the 40 acre land was taken by North Central Provincial Council member Rifkhan Bathiudeen on forged deeds.