• The vacant railway land leased to the Mahindananda Aluthgamage Foundation been taken back for the offence of providing free space for a Sil meditation programme!

The Government has taken steps to repossess, on 2 May, a railway reservation land in Nawalapitiya that had been lawfully used on a lease basis for 26 years by the Mahindananda Aluthgamage Foundation, which was established by an Act of Parliament, along with a three-storey building of 6,000 square feet constructed on it.

This takeover has created a controversial situation in the area, as the social welfare activities carried out by the foundation have come to a halt as a result.

Attention has also been drawn to the fact that one floor of the building on the said land had long been provided free of charge for the monthly Sil meditation programme Sadaham Suwanda led by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera, which the Government has interpreted as a ‘violation of lease conditions’.

Against this backdrop, and despite the Mahindananda Aluthgamage Foundation legally holding rights to the property until 2028 under the lease agreement, this sudden repossession has drawn strong public criticism.

The property in question is located at No. 32, Ginigathhena Road, Nawalapitiya. It is a railway reservation owned by the Department of Railways and consists of two portions:

• a land extent of 13.2 perches as per Plan No. Mah/06/05, and 
• a railway reservation land identified as Lot 01 in Plan LA 57/20. 

This land had been under the Foundation’s use since 2000 and was utilised for its activities along with the constructed building.

The lawful possession was maintained through lease agreements renewed from time to time since 2005. Under the most recent lease agreement (No. LC/2023/2016), signed for a five-year period from 01.07.2023 to 30.06.2028, the land had been formally granted to the Foundation.

It is confirmed that the Foundation has continuously paid over Rs. 5 million to the Department of Railways for the use of this land. These payments include:

• Rs. 492,800 for the period 01.07.2014 to 30.06.2015 
• Rs. 225,860 for the years 2017 and 2018 
• Rs. 1,771,000 in arrears up to 31.12.2018 
• Rs. 3,000,000 paid covering the period up to 30.06.2024 

The Department of Railways decided to repossess the property in early 2026, citing two main reasons.

By a letter dated 27.01.2026 (No. LG0045), General Manager of Railways, K. Ravindra Pathmapriya, informed that a lease condition had been violated by the lessee. Residents emphasise that the only relevant instance is the long-term provision of the premises free of charge for Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera’s monthly meditation programmes.

Additionally, by a letter dated 04.02.2026, the General Manager stated the land had become essential for a special Government development project.

Accordingly, a notice of eviction was issued on 27.03.2026 under Section 3 of the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act.

Beneficiaries state that the three-storey, 6,000-square-foot building that was repossessed had served as a centre for numerous long-term social welfare and public service programmes of the Foundation. In particular, one floor had been provided free of charge for many years for the monthly meditation programme led by Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thera, contributing directly to the spiritual well-being of low-income residents in the area.

A similar attempt to repossess the property in 2015 was quashed by the Court of Appeal, which held that the lessee had a ‘legitimate expectation’ and that removal without giving an opportunity to be heard violated principles of natural justice.

However, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, who is currently in remand at Welikada Prison (Prisoner No. D 28443), complied with the Government order and handed over the land and building to the Department of Railways on 2 May 2026 at 9.00 a.m. through the Foundation’s Secretary, Chamika Dharmatilaka.

Nevertheless, criticism continues as to whether this repossession strictly adhered to the law or amounted to an arbitrary halt of a social and religious service.

Residents also recall that local political authorities representing the National People’s Power Government had previously held media briefings making what they describe as false allegations that the land was being occupied illegally.

They further allege that the repossession was carried out at the request of NPP MP Thushari Jayasinghe, with the intervention of Deputy Minister Prasanna Gunasena.

Although MP Thushari Jayasinghe visited the site on 2 May and alleged misuse of the property by the Foundation, residents have rejected those claims.

According to them, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to around 5,000 youths and provided vocational training to about 6,000 young people. In addition, it has carried out numerous welfare activities, including the distribution of wheelchairs and spectacles, significantly improving living standards in the area.

They argue that it was this social impact in Nawalapitiya and the wider Kandy District that local political authorities found difficult to tolerate.

They further state that although the property had been lawfully held under a valid lease, making it difficult for local authorities to take it over, it was ultimately seized by interpreting the provision of free space for the meditation programme as a breach of lease conditions.

Accordingly, they claim this amounts to political retaliation against former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, with the adverse consequences falling on the local community.

Under the legally established lease agreement, the Foundation had nearly two more years, until 2028, to use the land and building. However, following the notice issued by the General Manager of Railways, Aluthgamage decided to comply with the Government’s repossession order.

In a letter dated 27.04.2026 sent from prison to the General Manager of Railways, he stated that he agreed with the Government’s legal action.

Although he was unable to be present in person due to his incarceration, he arranged for the land and building to be handed over on 2 May 2026 at 9.00 a.m. through the Foundation’s Secretary.

In his letter, the former Minister further requested that the fully equipped 6,000-square-foot building, constructed at a cost of several million rupees, be preserved and utilised for a public or developmental purpose rather than being allowed to fall into disuse or destruction.