Battaramulla land CBK given time for written submissions

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that July 31 as the last date for filing written submissions, by the retired President Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, in respect of the fundamental rights violation application filed against her

and a few other respondents regarding the alienation of State land at Battaramulla to a private entrepreneur. The Court said no further extensions will be granted.

Two public interest litigants had alleged that the retired President misdirected the Cabinet of Ministers in seeking approval to alienate 135 acres of acquired State land, to a Japanese entrepreneur, to construct a Golf Course. The land had been acquired by the UDA in the early 1980s for flood retention and public utility purposes.

The Bench comprised the Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva, Justice N. G. Amaratunga and Justice K. Sripavan.