Deals with deeds and controversy at Wayamba PC

Government Assessor’s recommendation ignored, officer executing the deal not a lawyer

Purchase of privately owned land at rates far exceeding the Government assessed rate has given rise to a raging controversy in the Wayamba Provincial Council. The land in question was acquired on the pretext of developing the Heraliyawala Industrial town which comes under the ambit of the Wayamba Provincial Council.

Ignoring the Government assessed rate which was Rs. 6 million, the land had been bought for a thumping Rs 27 million. The Special Presidential Investigation Unit too has launched an investigation into the purchase of the said land.

The Sunday Times learns that the legal officer who executed the deal is not a professional lawyer, but a graduate employee attached to the Wayamba Secretariat, whereas there is a Legal Division attached to the Council. An official of the Special Presidential Commission said this legal officer had given a flawed reading of the law by affirming the deeds were clear, whereas in reality the lands were on lease to two banks.

Asoka Wadigamangawa Opposition leader of the Wayamba Council commenting on the issue said that the land is a fallow stretch, lacking in access roads, a large area is rocky while the rest is muddy land. He said that the land is leased to the banks and as such cannot be sold.

He questioned as to who it was who recommended such a land for purchase by the Council. He mentioned that a sum of Rs. 28, 500,000 has been received from the Treasury and this meant a massive sum of over Rs. 52,000,000/- had been spent to satisfy the fancy of a single officer.

He pointed out the deal had been made via an assessment made by the Pradeshiya Secretary of Kurunegala who had no right to assess lands, completely ignoring the assessment made by the Government Assessor’s Department. Wadigamangawa said this amounted to nothing less than fraud. Whereas the land should have been redeemed by its owners from the bank, it has now been done by the Council which is completely wrong. He questioned the knowledge of the Attorney who dared write a deed to lands which were leased to a bank.

The attorney while being paid for her work in the Council had also been paid separately for executing the deed which is also an offence. He charged those involved in the fraud are now known and that the offenders should be punished. Commenting on the sordid episode Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe said: “The Industrial Service Officer is in my charge, so this issue is mine. I will investigate whether there has been any flaw in seeking advice from the Consulting Committee of the Council. There will also be a debate on the issue in the Council.”

A ranking official attached to the Presidential Investigation Unit said statements in this connection have been obtained from the Chief Secretary of the PC officials involved.