Malwana mystery land for police academy, judicial training centre

A Justice Ministry proposal to take over more than 16 acres of land in Malwana to set up a Police Academy and a Judicial Training Centre is now being examined by the Government.

If accepted, the move may see a situation where little compensation would have to be paid to the alleged owners. This is on the grounds that the building on the property worth more than Rs. 207 million, on a valuation by the Government Valuer, has reportedly been constructed without the approval of the local authority of the area.

An auction of the land and property was fixed for March 29. In fact the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) placed advertisements in the media for this purpose. However, Additional District Judge Nilpuli Lankapura held that there was no legal provision to dispose of any property or production until a court case is completed. Later, the Attorney General sought the revocation of the auction and the Court considering the application, withdrew the initial order for public auction.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe has now proposed that four acres of land from this property be given to the Judicial Training Centre and the remaining portion to the Ministry of Law and Order, under whom the Police Department is assigned.

The land and a house under construction allegedly belonged to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa. He has, however, denied ownership and a court case is now under way at the Pugoda Magistrate’s Court.