Squatters carry on amidst alleged police inaction
By Nalaka Nonis
Despite the alleged land encroachment by the UNP parliamentarian Olitha Premathirathne, being brought to the notice of Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, no action has been taken so far to stop the continuing encroachment. Houses and huts are continuously being erected, while construction material is transported to the site in order to carry on the illegal construction, The Sunday Times learns.

When contacted last week by The Sunday Times, Interior Minister John Amaratunga said that he has given orders to the police to evict people from the land, yet they are still in occupation.

Mr. Paul Perera, whose 99 acreswere also grabbed, said that he has lodged three complaints at the Seeduwa, Negombo and Peliyagoda police stations but so far no action has been taken. Police have shown their incompetence by not pursuing action against the relevant MP, he added.

However, Seeduwa police, under whose jurisdiction this land comes, said that they no longer handle the case since the matter was pending in courts. Mr. Perera said that supporters of Olitha Premathirathne are currently issuing cards valued at Rs.1,000 and people interested could buy a card and occupy a block of ten perches.

He alleged that the MP is avoiding people who come to him, insisting on the return of money they had paid to buy the land. Mr. Perera said that he has signed an agreement with a UK company named Circle Five International to build 200 holiday homes on this controversial land and that the project will bring Rs.10,000 million in foreign exchange.

He added that both his counterpart in the UK and himself have written to the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka urging him to take the matter up with Premier Wickremesinghe.

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