By Roy Denish
Allegations concerning Battaramulla state land allocations have prompted scrutiny of lease payments, political connections and public property use.
COLOMBO – Fresh allegations concerning the allocation of valuable state-owned land during the Rajapaksa administration have raised questions about political favouritism, public asset management and the transparency of long-term government property leases.
According to the account supplied to The Morning Telegraph, ruling party Member of Parliament Asitha Niroshana raised concerns in Parliament over several land allocations in Battaramulla, an area originally designated for the development of Sri Lanka’s national administrative infrastructure.
The allegations concern prime government property reportedly leased to politically connected individuals and institutions under arrangements whose financial terms and subsequent use have attracted scrutiny.
Rajapaksa Memorial Trust Allocation
One of the transactions highlighted involves a 27.87-perch property allegedly allocated to the D. A. Rajapaksa Memorial Educational, Cultural and Social Welfare Trust.
According to the parliamentary allegations described, the land was leased for 30 years for a payment of approximately Rs. 63,000.
The property was reportedly requested for educational, cultural and social welfare activities but was subsequently used in connection with Carlton Sports Network, a private media enterprise.
If the alleged lease terms and usage are confirmed by government records, the transaction would raise questions about whether the property was allocated and used in accordance with the purpose originally approved.
However, determining whether any impropriety occurred would require examination of the lease agreement, valuation reports, applicable regulations and subsequent approvals.
Second Property Allocation Raises Questions
The MP also reportedly referred to another transaction involving approximately 25 perches of land allocated to Tamara Dissanayake, the spouse of former Minister S. B. Dissanayake.
The reported 30-year lease was valued at Rs. 16 million.
According to the allegations, the property is currently being used as a private parking area.
The account claims that comparable land in Battaramulla commands substantially higher market prices, although no independent valuation establishing the relevant property’s value at the date of the alleged transaction has been verified.
Current asking prices for nearby properties cannot, by themselves, establish the appropriate historical lease value.
Government Promises Action
According to the supplied account, the Deputy Minister of Urban Development informed Parliament that future allocations of state land would be governed by measures intended to prevent political influence and favouritism.
The Government also reportedly indicated that legal action could follow where past transactions were found to have violated applicable laws.
The broader issue concerns the protection of state assets intended for public administration and essential infrastructure.
Land reserved for national development carries economic value beyond its immediate market price. Its allocation to private entities can also affect long-term infrastructure planning.
Documentary Evidence Remains Essential
Several important questions remain unanswered.
These include whether the leases were properly authorised, how the relevant properties were valued, whether their eventual use complied with the approved purposes and whether any public official breached applicable procedures.
A definitive assessment would require authenticated land records, lease agreements, valuation reports and responses from the parties concerned.
Until those documents are examined, the reported transactions must be treated as allegations requiring further investigation rather than proven instances of fraud.
Sources and verification
- Parliament of Sri Lanka — Official Website
- Registrar General’s Department — Online Land Portal
- Original parliamentary allegations supplied to The Morning Telegraph.
