The Hon. R.M. Jayawardhana

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the land in question is about 10 acres. In the 1970s, part was allocated to build a court complex; after construction, a remaining strip is being used by the Bar Association as a vehicle park, and they collect the income. A separate remaining portion belongs to the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (not Lanka Sathosa). There are five stores and shop rooms constructed. According to our inquiries, these shop rooms were leased long ago without proper valuation, some as dorms; now the lessees have subleased them to lawyers, which is unlawful. Government rent collected is very small, while subleases fetch much higher returns. The lease periods have lapsed long ago without revision. Sathosa has notified occupants to vacate, but as valuation and proper rent-setting are being done, we decided to extend till December 2025; new agreements have been signed to pay revised rents from the agreement date up to December. We have referred the land for valuation. We are working to convert this into a productive asset generating proper revenue to the State.