News

Ex-Basnayake Nilame remanded over alleged land scam

By L. B. Senaratne

A former Basnayake Nilame of the Lankatilake Devale has been remanded on charges of fraud involving more than 280 acres of land belonging to a temple in Mawathagama, in the Kurunegala district. The suspect has been remanded till March 8, 2012

The Pilessa Court heard that Colombo resident P. P. R. Rajapakse had filed a complaint of alleged fraud committed by former Basnayake Nilame Samarasinghe Bandara of Kiribathkumbura. The suspect was employed in the office of a Basnayake Nilame of one of the four Kandy Devales, and it was during this time that he acquired a knowledge of land matters in respect of the four Devales, under the Buddhist Temporalities Act, and that this particular Devale owned 66,000 acres.

Mr. P. P. R. Rajapakse, the complainant, came to know that lands acquired by the Land Reform Commission were to be handed over to the Devales under a Presidential directive. Around the same time, a friend of Mr. Rajapakse’s contacted the suspect, and the two visited Mawatagama to view 280 acres. Mr. Rajapakse decided to buy the land, and paid the suspect a cash advance out of the Rs. 3.5 million the suspect wanted. The rest of the money was deposited in the suspect’s account in a bank in Kandy.

The money was paid in 2007 and 2008, but the land had not yet been handed over to the Devale concerned. The purchaser, Mr. Rajapakse, then demanded his money back. The suspect issued a cheque which was returned by the bank.

Inspector Niroshan Willawaarachchi and Inspector Saman Bandara of the Kurunegala Special Crimes Investigation Bureau are heading investigations, under the directions of ASP Mahinda
Dissanayake.

Top to the page  |  E-mail  |  views[1]
SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend
 
Other News Articles
Iran oil: Lanka trapped in US sanctions
Moves to buy fuel from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi
CB stops hoarding of dollars by banks
Fired CPC chairman sent to the ‘Pool’
23 points, and you lose your driving licence
Colombo Hilton clinches better management agreement
Chinese Govt. should see whether its equipment is used in wire tapping here: Mangala
Fuel scam with bowsers in Kalpitiya
Beachfront property sold and resold with forged deeds for Rs. 160m
25-year tax exemption for Indian coal power project in Sampoor
Powers only to take over land for religious purposes
No fuel surcharge in February light bill
Stern action against errant party members, regardless of position: Ranil
2,000 visa-free Indians arrive for Kachchativu St. Anthony’s feast
Ex-Basnayake Nilame remanded over alleged land scam
CA directs notice issued on respondents against wife’s HC application
Global Tamils back LLRC proposals
Voluntary or coaxed, they came out against UNHRC resolution
Fuel price hike takes the bread out of one’s mouth, literally
Bent double , but 80-year-old wonder still stands tall
Law in place, but little redress for right of access for disabled—Dr. Perera
Brutal killing in city hotel adds to increasing incidents of crime
National Hospital Acting Director’s FR application irreconcilable — PSC Counsel to Supreme Court
Sex in the city: Police come down hard
Wildlife officers raid Kalpitiya hotel, arrest six tourists, seize protected wildlife species
Norochcholai adds to CEB’s losses
Islandwide headcount after 30 years
Glittering find pits prospectors against environment
Communal parties - an impediment to national reconciliation
The soul of 'Save Maldives' now in the sea of silence
Humour, wit and diplomacy: All in the national interest

 

 
Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
© Copyright 1996 - 2012 | Wijeya Newspapers Ltd.Colombo. Sri Lanka. All Rights Reserved | Site best viewed in IE ver 8.0 @ 1024 x 768 resolution