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JVP: Mahaweli land given away to cronies of govt.

Published

3 years ago

2023/08/14

Thilina Walpola

COPE Probe

By Saman Indrajith

JVP leader and NPP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake, during a recent probe by the COPE (Committee on Public Enterprises), said he got 224 copies of letters sent by the Office of the Minister of Mahaweli to officials, asking them to release Mahaweli land to the cronies of the government.

“I want to know the procedure followed by the Mahaweli Authority when releasing the Mahaweli lands to private individuals. I know a situation in Thambuttegama, where the Mahaweli regional officer gives away lands to his relatives, former police officers and others.

The officials have found some loopholes in laws governing the Mahaweli land. This has become a big business now. “It is in the course of this inquiry that I came to know that a large number of lands have been distributed even after a written order from the Presidential Secretariat on Nov 11, 2022. You must explain to this committee how those lands have been given away,” Dissanayake told the officials present.

Officials responded that the method of releasing lands coming under the purview of the Mahaweli Authority was the same as specified by the State Lands Ordinance and the Land Development Ordinance.

SLPP Kalutara District MP Sanjeewa Edirimanne: It is not the method of releasing the ownership of lands but the method adopted to select the beneficiaries that we need to know.

Dissanayake: I have information of distributing 116 plots of lands in Polonnaruwa to various friends of the minister.SLPP dissident Kurunegala District MP Dayasiri Jayasekera: The officials should tell us the extent of land distributed after the order against it.

COPE Chairman Prof Ranjith Bandara said that after that directive over 2,000 plots of Mahaweli lands had been distributed by the authority.

Until now the exact extent of lands coming under the Mahaweli Authority had not been properly identified, the COPE Chairman said, instructing the Director General of the Mahaweli Authority to prepare a comprehensive report on the scope of territories identified as Mahaweli lands and collect information of the use of those lands within one month. “There are hotels, other buildings, etc., on the Mahaweli lands. Thousands of acres have been released to various persons. This is illegal. The authority should report back to the COPE on this matter,” Prof. Bandara said.

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MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions

Published

8 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.

The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.

A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.

The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.

Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.

[President’s Media Division]

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Grade 5 scholarship exam results released

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk

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Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan

Published

17 hours ago

2026/09/2

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.

During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”

The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.