A'pura mayor refutes allegations

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr

The gossip to the effect that there was an underground move, politically motivated to encroach government reservations in the Anuradhapura city was utterly baseless and unauthentic, Anuradhapura Mayor H P Somadasa said.

The mayor said so in replying to a question raised by UC member Ariyaratne Wickramarachchi Attorney-at-Law (UNP) on the land encroachment matter.

Wickramarachchi said since the members of the Anuradhapura Urban Council were duty-bound and obliged to protect the city and its property irrespective of party politics, the members shall be on alert to thwart any such sinister scheme to cause 'land robbery' in the city and the suburb.

"In Anuradhapura city around 80 state employees are occupying government official quarters spreading on a land area of 38 acres. There is a proposal to develop this land for commercial use while going to a systematic housing plan for the government servants, which is not misusing the crown lands", Somadasa said.

Mayor said that already a committee has been appointed with North Central Chief Province Minister Ranjith Samarakoon, to regularize the city government land. It has focused attention over the city's land use, alienation, encroaching and unauthorized constructions along with other various land rackets taking place to stop further land misuse.