Sri Lanka, July 19 -- The Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) has uncovered that a 43-acre land in the Hanthanawaththa area-formerly belonging to the Janatha Estate Development Board-was released to Parliamentarian Chamindrani Kiriella in violation of the Land Reforms Act.

This revelation came during a recent COPE session where the Land Reforms Commission (LRC) was summoned for questioning. In response to a query from COPE Chairman Dr. Nishantha Samaraweera, the Director General of the Land Reforms Commission, Padmasiri Liyanage, made it clear that there was no legal obligation to allocate land to MP Kiriella.

"There are 22 claimants with over 50 acres of land in connection with this estate, and 46 non-claimants. None of these lands ...