by Chitra Weerarathne
A UNP supporter from Allagewatte, Kahawatte, had complained to Court of Appeal, that a land owned by him is to be acquired by the Kahawatte Divisional Secretariat, merely because he supported Gamini Athukorale, the Deputy Leader of the UNP at the last General Election. The petitioner is R. S. A. J. Perera.

The Minister of Land, Irrigation and Power, Anuruddha Ratwatte and Devapriya Wijatyaraja, the Divisional Secretary of Kahawatte, had noticed the petitioner of the impending takeover, abiding to come under Section 2 of the Land Acquisition Act.

The petition had challenged the notice sent under the aforesaid Section 2 of the Act. The petition had said that the notice did not specify the public utility project the state had in mind. Further, if it was needed to house those displaced by road widening, there was ample state land to house the displaced. The petition alleged political victimization, against the petitioner.

The petition said that the notice sent under Section 2 of the Land Acquisition Law was illegal.

On October 15, ’01, this petition was supported before the Court of Appeal by Ronald Perera.

The court issued a stay order suspending the Minister and the Divisional Secretary from proceeding with their decision to acquire. This order is till October 30.

The case will be argued further on October 29, ’01.

The Bench comprised, Justice Nimal Gamini Amaratunga and Justice G. W. Edirisuriya.