[ad#200×200]The ownership of the property, “Waters Edge”, Battaramulla was handed back to the Urban Development Authority yesterday by the private entrepreneur Asia Pacific Golf Course Pvt Limited.
The Urban Development Authority yesterday submitted to the Supreme Court the Deed of Revocation of ownership of 224 acres of land to the state, sources said.
Counsel for the UDA Nihal Jayewardene, told the Court that the UDA abided by the recent Supreme Court judgement which declared that the alienation of this property to a private entrepreneur was mala-fide.
The Court earlier ordered former president Mrs. Kumaratunga to pay Rs. 3 million as compensation to the state for misdirecting the Cabinet to believe that this land was alienated for a public utility purpose.
Counsel Jayewardene also told the court that the UDA and the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation are holding discussions to decide how best to use the property to benefit the people. A draft of this master plan is to be submitted to the court within two weeks.
The UDA is awaiting the valuation report from the Chief Government valuer in respect of the constructions done on this land. This report is also to be submitted to the court shortly.
The court yesterday issued notice on the permanent commission to investigate bribery and corruption. The court ordered that the commission should submit their findings in respect of the mala-fide deal and submit the progress of their investigation at the next hearing, in two weeks time.
Senior State Counsel N. G. Pulle, said that the Commission has started on the Investigation.
Uditha Egalahewa appeared for seven hotelier employees of the Waters Edge Club. He said that his clients are likely to lose their jobs. They are top hotelier, but unable to secure elsewhere as the hotel industry is at present having a lean time.
The court directed Mr. Egalahewa, to check the employees employment data and to check with the Commissioner of Labour, what best relief could be granted for them.
The counsel for the UDA said that the Chairman of the UDA, had expressed willingness to retain any competant employees.
source:News.lk