What her duties entail

The Public Trustee Department, although coming under the government, manages private property, both movable and immovable, including money, jewellery, vehicles, land or any other asset. The monies run into billions and the lands include vast tracts of paddy, tea, rubber and coconut.

This is how Mrs. Keenawinna Disanayake describes the mandate of the department in a nutshell.

“When last wills or trust deeds are deposited with us, we act as the Executor and implement last wills on the death of the relevant person and trust deeds while they are living,” she says, adding that sometimes court appoints the department as Administrator in other complicated cases.

The duties of the Public Trustee include: Acceptance of last wills and trust deeds; taking on the power of attorney in the management of property of minors and those of unsound mind; maintaining compensation monies paid by the government on acquiring temple lands and releasing such monies on the instructions of the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs; looking after compensation monies paid on behalf of migrant workers and ensuring that they are distributed among the rightful heirs if there are no legal nominees; and when appointed Administrator in other cases, seeing the conclusion of these cases and distributing the assets among the beneficiaries.

“We cannot change wills or trust deeds when there are specific objectives. If there are no specific objectives and beneficiaries, the Public Trustee may use her discretion to help those in need,” she reiterates.