The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the answers are as follows:

¶ 02 (a) (i) Total extent: 58.48 acres (23.637 hectares). (ii) Yes. (iii) Land parcels critical for development—such as Plot Nos. 01 and 19—are required to expand patient care services. However, unauthorized occupants and businesses impede their use. (iv) Actions taken: 1. Acquisition and gazetting: Steps are underway via the Ministry of Lands to acquire and gazette hospital land portions (lots 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8) not yet gazetted as state land. 2. Eviction cases: In 2018, eviction cases were filed in the Kandy Magistrate’s Court against 27 unauthorized occupants. Ten eviction orders have been issued; two properties have been repossessed by the hospital. Eight further eviction orders have been issued and are to be executed by the court fiscal. The Legal Division of the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General’s Department are supporting remaining legal actions. New unauthorized constructions (e.g., Kandy Temple View City Hotel lodging house, Midland building, Vasantha Rudrigo’s two-storied house, N. Dinesh Kumar’s premises, and Kandy Flower Shop) are also being proceeded against for eviction. 3. Boundary security: A protective fence has been constructed from the Kidney Unit (Dr. Tilak Abeysekara) along the Hanthana Road where the hospital land abuts the road. 4. Halting services/approvals: In consultation with the Kandy Municipal Commissioner, agreement has been reached not to issue new assessment numbers, water/electricity connections, building approvals, or trade licenses within the hospital land. 5. Legal actions on appeals: Where occupants have appealed to higher courts (District, High, and Court of Appeal), legal steps are being taken with the Attorney General’s Department/Government Attorneys. 6. Data collection: A team comprising the Divisional Secretariat, Grama Niladharis, Economic Development Officers, Samurdhi Officers, and hospital officers is collecting occupant data. Despite resistance, on 2023-10-18 the Divisional Secretary provided a list of 181 occupants, revised to 270 on 2024-01-04. Further household-level details are being gathered to submit a Cabinet Memorandum. 7. Land Committee: A Land Committee was appointed at the Kandy National Hospital on 2022-08-17 to oversee proper allocation and recovery of hospital lands. 8. Notification to Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs: The Commissioner General has been informed regarding claims that certain hospital land portions belong to the Natha Devalaya to prevent rent/tax payment issues being raised on that basis. 9. Prevention: Measures are in place to prevent new unauthorized constructions within hospital land.

¶ 03 (b) Does not arise.