Hantana on sale?

FR application before Supreme Court

By Stanley Samarasinghe
Kandurata Development Bank Chairperson J.G.V.K. Ramanie Jayawardana filed a Fundamental Rights Application in Supreme Court to stop Hantana Mountain Range lands from being sold for residential purposes.

According to petitioner Ramanie Jayawardana these lands are divested for tea cultivation to protect the catchment area of the Mahaweli River and to prevent the destruction and denudation of the forest cover.

Central Environment Authority, Agriculture Ministry Secretary and Development and Agrarian Service T.M. Abeywickrama, Prime Lands Pvt Ltd, D.S. Senanayake Veediya, Kandy, Gangawatte Korale Pradeshiya Sabha, National Building Research Organisation, Junatha Estates Development Board, Environment and Natural Recourses Minister Patalie Champika Ranawaka,

Urban Development Authority and Attorney General have been named as respondents in this application.

The petitioner, State Land Reform Commission and Janatha Estates Development Board acquired these lands for the purpose of tea cultivation, and it now transpires that the ultimate objective is to block out lands for sale to construct houses for residential purposes.

Also, Prime Lands (Pvt) Ltd. advertised in newspapers that 39 blocks of lands were for sale to construct houses in a project called ‘The Kingdom.’

According to National Building Research Organisation this caused immense destruction and denudation of forest resulting in landslides in the area. It also recommended the evacuation of residents and reforestation to protect the area.

Petitioner appealed the court to order Prime Lands (Pvt) Ltd. to refrain from proceeding with the project until the conclusion of the case. The petitioner has declared that Fundamental Rights have been violated and requested to order Minister Ranawaka to declare that part of Hantana Mountain Range as protected area.