WATTALA - MABOLA UC LEASES OUT VALUABLE LANDS FOR PENNIES

During the Local Government Election 2018, the UNP recovered power at the Wattala Mabola UC and that serves as the only local authority belonging to the UNP in the Gampaha District Numerous acres and the Averiwatta public market building have been leased

The Wattala - Mabola Urban Council has been leasing out 12 plots of land which are under the council’s purview since 1999 but the nominal rent of most of these lands are only Rs. 1,000 per year, it was reported.

The ruling party of the Wattala Mabola UC had been the UNP since its beginning, except during the last 5 years where the ruling party was the UPFA. During the Local Government Election 2018, the UNP recovered power at the Wattala Mabola UC and that serves as the only local authority belonging to the UNP in the Gampaha District.

The major development projects during the UNP ruling era had been limited at two and they are the construction of the public market at Hendala Junction and the public market at Mabola. The public market at Hendala Junction is at a dilapidated state while the Mabola public market had become a failure owing to lack of customers.

The public is questioning about the services they have received as a result of leasing the 12 plots of land.

A plot of land with a large market value situated in Hendala Junction had been divided into 5 separate plots and had been leased to a private company under five deeds on several occasions for a period of 30 years and subsequently the first company had subleased some of these plots to another private company. The UC only receives an annual rent of Rs. 5,000 from these five valuable plots of land.

Additionally, numerous acres and the Averiwatta public market building have been leased for a period of 30 years.

The Balahenawatta land at Wattala Church Lane had also been leased to a well known institution for 30 years. Seven plots of land including the land behind Mabola new market complex, the land behind the market complex at Hendala Junction, building allotment at Hendala Junction, a strip of land adjoining the canal near the Hendala Junction market complex and the allotment near the Wattala railway station road had also been leased out.

When circumstances are as such, Hendala Junction which is often crowded does not even possess a plot of land to construct a public toilet. The Sunday fair is being held on either sides of the old Negombo Road. Buses travel to many areas in the island across Wattala which is considerably a larger city. However, there is no public bus stand for the city. Under these circumstances, lands that could have been employed for such purposes had been leased on a long time basis for mere Rs.1,000. What exactly will be the public service rendered by leasing these plots of lands?

Recently, a tense situation arose among residents over selling of a 79 perch leased land under a low bid to an individual. Western Province Local Government Secretary Chandrani Samarakoon who probed the allegations received regarding this incident interdicted former Secretary to Urban Council Ms. D. P. H. Samarawickrama and the UC had to repurchase the particular land on the orders of the Western Province Governor M. J. M. Muzammil.

The Chairman of the UC, Mark Gunasekara has stated that the 79 perch “Aswaddum” land had been sold in order to construct a new public market in place of the old market at Hendala Junction which is on the verge on sinking and is in a dilapidated state.

However, SLFP UC Councillor Nimal Siri Koralege who opposed to the selling of this “Aswaddum” land stated that the absence of a public toilet at Hendala junction which is often crowded is a huge drawback. “When in need of lavatory facilities, one had to go to hotels or other places nearby. Women faced even more difficulties,” he said.

He also stated that sellers of Sunday fair which was being held on either sides of the old Negombo Road had no sanitary facilities or water. Even though a number of buses travel across Wattala, there was no public bus stand for the city. He added that the five plots of lands leased to a private institute could have been used to construct a large bus stand.

The Balahenawatta land at Wattala Church Lane had also been leased to a well known institution for 30 years. Seven plots of land including the land behind Mabola new market complex, the land behind the market complex at Hendala Junction, building allotment at Hendala Junction, a strip of land adjoining the canal near the Hendala Junction market complex and the allotment near the Wattala railway station road had also been leased out

The 79 perch “Aswaddum” land had been sold in order to construct a new public market in place of the old market at Hendala Junction which is on the verge on sinking and is in a dilapidated state - Mark Gunasekara

When in need of lavatory facilities, one had to go to hotels or other places nearby. Women faced even more difficulties - Nimal Siri Koralege