Police officer, and another man injured in heated land dispute; Minister Prasanna says land does not belong to him

COLOMBO (News 1st); Two people were arrested for assaulting a police officer assigned to the security detail of Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and another individual in Pansilgoda, Minuwangoda on Thursday (25) evening.

Sri Lanka Police said that a heated exchange between two factions led to the altercation.

A police officer assigned to the security detail of Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, and a staff member detailed to the Minister were injured and were admitted to the Gampaha Base Hospital.

According to the locals, the altercation took place when a group had visited a land in Pansilgoda, and started digging trenches.

Speaking to News 1st, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said the incident had taken place at a land that belongs to the Reggie Ranatunga Foundation.

"The Reggie Ranatunga Foundation provides school books, scholarships, housing for the local students. The land in question was used to operate a vocational training institute with funding from Korean associates," said the Minister.

He added that many years later the building at the premises reached a dilapidated state, and it was decided to remove the building and plant coconut trees as a development project.

The Minister alleged that a political group had misled the local community and that resulted in two people assigned to the premises being assaulted.

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the premises is not a play ground, and permission was even granted by the Reggie Ranatuga Foundation to organize the annual Vesak Dansala.

The Minister stressed the land does not belong to him, and belongs to the Reggie Ranatunga Foundation.