Government is working to bring in state land provisions bill: Supreme Court

Colombo (News 1st): The Supreme Court stated today (July 11) that the government is working to bring in a state land provisions bill to give state lands to people who they want, without meeting the proper criteria and legal provisions. Attorney-at-Law Premanath Dolawatte appearing on behalf of MP Sisira Jayakody and Attorney-at-Law Kanishka Vitharana said that the petitions filed against the state land special provisions bill was re-examined today. The petitions had been called before the Supreme Court Bench comprising judges Buwaneka Aluvihare, Prasanna Jayawardena and L.T.B Dehideniya. Attorney-at-Law Kanishka Vitharana stated that the landlords must meet certain criteria and the criteria for transferring a state-owned land. However, he argued that this move by the government to grant land to the people who they want was a violation of fundamental rights. Parliamentarians Udaya Gammanpila and Sisira Jayakody, Attorney at law - Premanath C. Dolawatta and Ulapane Sumangala Thero have filed petitions challenging the bill.