• Probe underway into alleged fraud including sale of any State land that is illegally occupied 

In the wake of allegations of a large-scale racket to reclaim and sell ancient reservoirs and paddy lands around the City of Anuradhapura, the Land and Irrigation Ministry stated that such actions would not be permitted under any circumstances.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Land and Irrigation Deputy Minister Aravinda Senarath said that he had inquired from the relevant officials about the alleged fraud, but that they were unaware of any such activity. “I also saw this in the media. I inquired with the officials, and they are not aware of such a fraud. We will investigate this further.”

He further said that ancient tanks and paddy land cannot be sold under any circumstances. “Properties like tanks cannot be sold. Perhaps the owners of the illegally occupied lands may be trying to sell their lands to someone because we are in the process of remarking the boundaries of State land. But, we are investigating this. We will not allow anything like that to happen.”

Earlier, National Farmers’ Union Chairperson Anuradha Tennakoon claimed that a large-scale operation was underway to illegally reclaim and sell ancient tanks and paddy fields surrounding the Atamasthana area, including Basawakkulama, Pahala Katukeliyawa, and Thisawewa. He alleged that even tanks believed to be more than 1,000 years old were being targeted for reclamation, and that some officials attached to the Department of Agriculture, the Provincial Irrigation Department, and certain farmers’ organisations were involved in the scheme.