A Cabinet Minister has rejected the proposed site selected for a domestic airport in Kandy on the grounds that the location was one of the country’s most fertile grounds needed for agricultural experiments.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday Times that the site selected was considered a ‘national treasure’ which had been initially selected by the British for agricultural studies.
Some 300 acres which encompasses the Agriculture School in Karandagolla, Kundasale was selected by Minister Keheliya Rambukwella after President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the construction of a domestic airport in Kandy. Mr. Abeywardena said the location was the only place which experienced weather conditions of the dry zone as well as the wet zone enabling the carrying out of cultivations for research purposes, including the production of seed.
In addition, the agriculture school has produced a large number of agricultural experts, he said
He said that the Air Force was already in the process of carrying out the preliminary studies for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but as the Minister of Agriculture he will not allow the project to go ahead at that location.
UDA fills land acquired for flood retention claims widowed petitioner
A woman farmer has filed a Fundamental Rights petition in the Supreme Court, claiming that her land in Thalawatugoda, which was acquired as a flood retention area by the Ministry of Defence & Urban Development, is now being filled.
Minister of Land & Land Development, Secretary- Ministry of Defence & Urban Development, Secretary- Ministry of Agrarian Services & Wildlife, Commissioner General of Agrarian Development, Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka Land Reclamation & Development Corporation (SLRDC), and Director (Lands)- UDA, are cited as Respondents.
Petitioner, E.D. Ariyawathie (66), a tenant farmer and a widow with four children, states that her late father was the first registered tenant cultivator in the 2.63 hectare land located in Batadeniya, Talangama South, Thalawathugoda.
The Petitioner, who succeeded to the tenancy, after her mother’s death in 1982, states she earned a reasonable income from paddy and fruit cultivation on this plot of land.
In 2010, Petitioner wrote to the Inspector General of Police, seeking his immediate intervention against harassment and threats from unidentified persons to handover the land. Police response to her appeal and her active involvement, put a halt to these harassments.
She also states that the UDA had also refused to accept the annual lease rental from 2010. Petitioner also attached a letter sent to her in January 2012, by the Senior Assistant Secretary- Ministry of Defence & Urban Development, that her land is to be taken over by the Land Reclamation & Development Board for flood retention, and that, no construction will take place on the land.
However, according to the petition, land filling is taking place since April 1, under the supervision of a UDA officer.
Indian officer's son abducted and released
The 14-year-old son of the cultural officer at the Indian consulate in Jaffna was abducted by unknown persons on Friday (25th) afternoon and released yesterday morning.
Police said that P. Akesh, a Grade 9 student at St. John's College, Jaffna, was waiting after school to take a bus home to Karaveddy, when a gang arrived on motorcycles and abducted the boy. He was taken to Killinochchi, where he spent the night, and dropped off in Jaffna town on Saturday morning. The gang took Rs. 3,000 that was in the boy's wallet.
SC to decide on Chaturi’s admission to Grade 1 at Visakha Vidyalaya
The Supreme Court has granted leave to proceed in a fundamental rights petition filed by parents of a child who was refused admission to Grade 1 at Visakha Vidayalaya.
The parents Neel Pradeep Gunasekera and H.K. Dhanushka Nirosshani Kumari have claimed that their child, Chathuri Rashmika Gunasekera, possessed the relevant qualifications under the residency rule and sibling category, but the school authorities have refused her admission.
They have cited Principal S.S.K. Avrippola, Primary Section Head E.M.E.A. Madanayake, members of the interview board and the Attorney General, among others as respondents.
The parents have claimed in the petition that their child was called for an interview in August last year in response to an application they submitted in April 2010. According to the petition, the interview board members had told the parents that the child had scored only 28 marks and therefore would not qualify to gain admission.
The parents have said that after their appeal, the marks were increased to 33, but they were told the child would still not qualify under the residency category. They had then appealed to the National School Director, who also upheld the interview board’s decision.
The parents in their petition point out that they have been living within the required radius and their elder daughter is studying in the same school.
They have claimed that the denial of admission was a violation of the fundamental rights of their child who is still not attending any school.The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake and Justices Gamini Amaratunga and Sathiya Hettige granted leave to proceed. The case would be taken up on June 18.
Attorney Riyad Ameen instructed by Gowri Thavarasa appeared for the petitioners.
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