Over 16,000 acres encroached upon:

SLR to file legal action to take over state lands

Irangika Range

The Railway Department will file legal action against encroachers to take over 16,000 acres of railway lands that had been encroached upon by unauthorized persons.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama said that legal action will be taken against encroachers, squatters and those with unauthorized constructions on lands belonging to the Sri Lanka Railways (SLR). "Several private vendors and certain people allegedly backed by politicians have illegally occupied railway lands and misappropriated railway properties in many areas across the country," he said.

The decision to take legal action for those who use SLR property illegally was taken recently at an inspection tour by Minister Kumara Welgama on lands belonging to the Bandarawela Railway Station. The minister observed that seven acres of land of the Bandarawela railway station have been illegally occupied by private vendors and shopkeepers over a long time.

The Railway Department has lost huge income due to this. It is reported many tenants are not paying dues for using railway property.

The minister has instructed the SLR officials to take immediate steps to remove those who use SLR property illegally and to take legal action against those who continuously avoid paying rents for using SLR property such as buildings and commercial lands."No one would be allowed to illegally occupy railway lands. We will rent out railway lands without transferring their ownership, under a proper procedure to raise the revenue for the Department," he said.