Questions over politico’s ten-perch state land offer

The 38- day polls campaign saw some politicians from different sides making announcements about dishing out state property as if they belonged to them personally.

One such case, which became glaring, came from a ruling party politician from the Nuwara Eliya District.

A video that has gone viral in the social media, verified by The Sunday Times, was a meeting he addressed in the Maskeliya town on November 9, just a week before yesterday’s presidential elections.

Before speaking, he removed the microphones placed by a local television reporter and the microphone of another who was reporting for a radio station.

“Today, I am sending a small piece of paper. You must put down your names, addresses and contact telephone numbers,” he declared. He then announced, “I will provide ten perches of land to everyone present at this meeting and have given their contacts.” He confessed that he could not publicly make such comments before a state- run television and a radio station.

The politico added, “I cannot publicly say that I can give this. Yet, I would provide the land. Do not entertain any fear or doubts. I have already counted 30 persons here. Those from outside this area will not be entitled to this land. I am only giving this to the people in this area who have attended this meeting.”

He said among the people who had gathered was a gem businessman whom he knew. “I don’t think he will need land,” he said adding that those present “should vote for the New Democratic candidate Sajith Premadasa to receive the land.”