The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana

¶ 01 Madam Deputy Chairperson of Committees, the declared objective of Venerable Itthekande Saddhānissa Thera was to construct a learning center for novice monks. However, it is apparent to us that at present he is not striving to teach novice monks. Rather, he seems intent on attempting to crown Namal Rajapaksa and to breathe life back into Rajapaksa politics at a time when it has suffered defeat. Ultimately, that is what he is attempting. He is trying to see whether the corrupt criminal state that operated in the past can somehow be revived.

¶ 02 Among the hundreds of thousands of monks in our country who act for the benefit of the Buddha Sasana and the public, he is engaging in activities unbecoming of a monk for commercial ends, misusing public money and property, and thereby bringing disrepute even to the Buddhist Order.

¶ 03 I wish to ask the Hon. Deputy Minister this: Since 2014.01.10, more than 10 years have elapsed after these lands were leased. Under the Land Alienation Act, if the intended purpose is not achieved within a year, the UDA has the power to re-enter and take back the land. At present, a portion of this land has been given for use as a parking area for a Keells Supermarket, earning Rs. 50,000 per month. Another portion has been given to a construction company as a place to store machinery, charging more than Rs. 150,000 per month. By paying the government a pittance, they are profiting more than Rs. 200,000 per month from this land. Therefore, for over 10 years this land has been misused, contrary to the purpose for which it was leased. Accordingly, based on the Act, the UDA has the ability to take this land back. Without allowing public property to be further misused, is your Ministry prepared to take it back and act in the public interest?