We have received information that the Urban Development Authority (UDA) has forcibly acquired a land on William Gopallawa Mawatha given by Queen Victoria to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. It is no secret that a large number of lands and properties belonging to the Temple of the Tooth have been sold by its trustees. We are receiving a lot of information about this from our Kandy District journalists.
Although the Temple of the Tooth owns more than 25,000 acres of land to maintain the Malwathu Asgiriya Temples and the deficient temples in Sri Lanka, the Temple of the Tooth has been largely sold by its trustees. Such a sale would make it impossible to maintain the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy one day. Various activities show that this situation is already emerging.
The lands thus sold have been acquired by various persons through various tactics. Also, even its ancient properties have been misplaced.
This land at William Gopallawa Mawatha, Kandy has been given for the Asgiriya and Malwathu temples and for the use of the Temple of the Tooth by the deed No. 2363 dated 21st February 1856.
From the documents available to us, it can be seen that the Urban Development Authority has forcibly acquired two acres of this 10 acre land. However, according to the Gazette Notification dated 17.11.1987, a portion of the land called Lot No. 1 has been duly acquired for Getambe College. A sum of about Rs. 151000.00 has been deposited in the account of the Temple of the Tooth for the value of that share on the original plan No. 2498.
In addition, there is another plan mentioned in this land number 3736 and the documents we have do not show that the plan was legally prepared.
The then Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs IKG Muthubanda had written to the Kandy Senior DIG on 11.12.2007 to remove the persons who had entered the land. At that time a premises had also been constructed and a letter had been sent on 24.12.2007 not to supply electricity to it but electricity had also been provided to it.
According to the letter of the Commissioner of Buddhist Affairs in Kandy dated 20.08.2008, the Urban Development Authority has illegally settled a person on this land. A deed under No. 1461 dated 12.03.2009 has also been prepared by a lawyer for this unauthorized person.
Also, in a letter dated 19.03.2008, the Urban Development Authority states that this land belongs to it. However, the Urban Development Authority did not state how it owned the land.
Meanwhile, on 209 05 10, another portion of this land was sold to a person named TG Lionel for a deposit of Rs. 1275000.00.
It should not be forgotten that the government officials, along with other parties, are destroying the property of you and me to maintain Buddhism. It is clear that these government officials are deliberately implementing long-term plans to destroy Buddhism and are acting contrary to the provisions of the Constitution stating that Buddhism should be protected and nurtured. It is also said that there is a Nilame behind this who has a relationship with a mother named Gnana. The Nilame sells property belonging to Buddhism and maintains his business with it, seeking protection from God. It is said that there are various incantations inside the body of this pagan Nilame who sells Buddhism and worships God. However, the elected Diyawadana Nilames are responsible for the protection of Buddhism. Also, the machines in the body will explode at any moment and the curse of the Goddess of Wisdom will fall on all these criminals.
Editor’s note
The consequences of the forcible acquisition of the palace lands would be felt some time later. In the end, it is the poor people who get the land without knowing the law and have to sue. They are not a problem for the Urban Development Authority or other government officials and even those who have done wrong are getting proper pensions. This is not a problem even for lawyers who have illegally prepared deeds. Lawyers sue so that wrongdoing lawyers do not have a problem. Under the Prevention of Unlawful Agreements Ordinance, all agreements and deeds that are not in accordance with the proper procedures are null and void before the law. But the aggrieved parties should also know how to enforce the law against wrongdoing officials. They can be prosecuted under the Sri Lankan Penal Code through the police and the people should act wisely knowing that the police are also “snatching away” to save the officers involved.
Buddhism is gradually being destroyed. Only God above knows why Buddhists are reluctant to talk about it or to speak up for it.