News
Rs 1.5 bn Lotus Tower, Customs Hq. land transactions yet to be finalised; COPE stresses need to streamline procedures
By Shamindra Ferdinando
The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has told the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Sri Lanka Customs to regularize two land transactions worth over Rs. 1.5bn. COPE Chairman Prof. Charitha Herath has advised SLPA Chairman Dr. Prasantha Jayamanna and Director General Customs Maj. Gen. G.V. Ravipriya (retired) to take immediate steps to validate the agreements in respect of the Nelum Tower and Sri Lanka Customs headquarters.
The COPE took up the issue when the SLPA top management appeared before the parliamentary watchdog committee, recently. DG Customs participated in the proceedings in his capacity as a member of the Board of Directors of the SLPA.
Prof. Herath has stressed the importance and the responsibility on the part of all state enterprises and institutions concerned to rectify the shortcomings pertaining to these high value transactions.
Auditor General W.P.C. Wickramaratne has been present on the occasion. The proceedings revealed that in spite of the completion of the Customs complex at a staggering cost of Rs 4 bn in May 2012 those in authority hadn’t bothered to finalize the payment for the land. The COPE has been told the Customs haven’t paid Rs 947.5 mn for 2 acre land belonging to the SLPA utilized for the construction.
Dr. Jayamanna said that at the time the SLPA land had been handed over to the Customs all concerned parties believed the SLPA could swap it with a block of land belonging to the Customs. But, later, that land, too, had been identified as SLPA property, Dr. Jayamanna said. The disclosure made Prof. Herath to ask DG, Customs to formalize the matter in consultation with relevant authorities.
Prof. Herath asked the SLPA to either obtain money for 2 acre land estimated to worth Rs 604.5 mn from the UDA that handled the Nelum Tower project or finalise the transaction in a suitable way. Asked whether the SLPA preferred money or shares of the company managing Nelum Tower, Dr. Jayamanna said that they have discussed with the UDA the possibility of swapping D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha land where Nelum Tower was built with UDA land also estimated at Rs 600 mn at the Bloemendhal Road. When the COPE was told the UDA hadn’t decided on the swap, Prof. Herath asked the SLPA to finalise the transaction by perhaps obtaining money for their land.
Dr. Jayamanne has pointed out that in case they go ahead with the swap of D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha land with that of UDA’s at Bloemendhal Road, the UDA would have to make a payment, too, in line with the valuation of the land.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
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