Archives

The Daily News reliably understands that Media spokesman of the UNP/UNF, Professor G.L.Peiris has been involved in a land transaction in 1984, during the time of the UNP Government by which the State has been deprived of several million rupees.

On May 23 1984 the Land Reform Commission (LRC) had sold to Mrs Savithri Nelun Peiris of 30/14, Park Road, Colombo 5, 27 acres of land from Mattegoda Estate for a sale price of Rs 164,500/- by deed No:48 attested by K.R.Peiris of Colombo, Notary Public. This amounts to a sale price of Rs 38.08 per perch.

This land had been sold by the LRC for the express purpose of agricultural development and animal husbandry, specifically under and in terms of Section 22 (1)(a) of the Land Reform Law, as had been stipulated in the above deed of sale.

Mrs Savithri Nelun Peiris had purchased this land to be held in Trust for and on behalf of Professor G.L.Peiris as the beneficiary, and he had paid the money to the LRC as shown by the deed of Trust No:366 dated September 09, 1985, attested by C.A.Fernando of Colombo, Notary Public.

This was because Prof. G.L.Peiris was an employee of the University of Colombo at the time of purchase. Though Section 23 (b) of the Land Reform Law states that LRC land could be alienated to State employees only for the purpose of construction of residential houses, the above land had been sold for agricultural development.

However Ms Savithri Nelun Peiris and the beneficiary Prof. G.L.Peiris had subsequently sold 05 acres 01 Rood 38.7 perches out of this land to the Finance Company Ltd, 3rd Floor, Ceylinco House, 69. Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1, on November 01, 1990 for Rs 3,867,500 by deed No:2110 attested by J.A.Jayamanne of Colombo, Notary Public. This amounts to Rs 6,092.59 per perch.

This land obtained for agricultural development had been thus sold to the Finance Co Ltd for the purpose of utilizing for "housing purposes". Approval for such change of purpose is stated to have been obtained from the LRC by letter dated September 25, 1990. This is a violation of the Land Reform Law.

If the land was valued at the price 05 acres of it was sold to the Finance Co, the LRC would have obtained Rs 19,013,998.05 by selling the 27 acres, which Prof. G.L. Peiris had obtained for only Rs 164,500.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager