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President intervenes in Natha Devale land dispute

By L.B. Senaratne

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered the Buddhist Affairs Director General Chandraprema Gamage to submit a report on the disputed Natha Devale premises, which is a matter of contention, in that the Dharmaraja College Old Boys Foundation is claiming the building.

In this connection, Mr. Gamage visited the Natha Devale premises in Kandy on Wednesday to inspect the old Billimoria building which once housed Dharmaraja College. This situation arose after the Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretary T. Bandara Tennakoon issued a vacation order that all persons should vacate a 50-perch extent of land abounding the Natha Devale, which houses the Billimora building, once owned by the Buddhist Theosophical Society, and later handed over when the Schools Takeover Act came into effect.

This matter had gone before the Ombudsman, where the foundation members and the then Natha Devale Basnayake Nilame R.M. Navaratne had appeared. However, the contention of the Natha Devale chief incumbent Ven. Godagama Ratnasara Thera, who has also invoked the Sangha Karaka Sabha of the Asgiriya Chapter as well, is that, should the 50 perches be given, then the Bo tree, the Viharage and even the Dagoba would come within this perimeter. The Thera has stated that, if this building is given as claimed, then even St. Paul's College has a right to claim the land which was taken over from the College, to establish another College in that premises.

This building also houses a 'Nanasala' declared open by President Rajapaksa, when the former Asgiriya Mahanayake Ven. Palipane Chandananda Thera was in office. This building was handed over to the Asgiriya Mahanayake by President Ranasinghe Premadasa., according to the Natha Devale incumbent and its environs are encompassed in the Sacred City Gazette.

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