PM's office refutes Dayasiri's remarks on Land Grants Act

The Prime Minister’s office has refuted remarks made by parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekara that the Land Grants (Special Provisions) Act had been gazetted without cabinet approval.

MP Jayasekara at a press briefing had yesterday (Jul 9) claimed that the Act had not received cabinet approval and had not included the amendments to it as proposed by the President.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary also alleged that the act had been drafted to facilitate the US and multinational organisations in acquiring lands in Sri Lanka.

However, the Prime Minister’s office in a press statement clarified that the Act had been amended after consulting the Attorney General over the amendments proposed by the President.

This had been approved by the President prior to gazetting it, the statement read.

The Prime Minister’s office also claimed that the Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement had been signed only to obtain funding for infrastructure and land development projects in the country.